Last updated 2026-07-09
TL;DR
There is no single SSA form called the 'RFC form.' Residual Functional Capacity gets built from several documents, mainly the SSA-4734-F4-SUP (physical RFC) and SSA-3373-BK (adult function report). SSA adjudicators fill out the internal RFC worksheets, but you can request yours after a denial or through your attorney. This article breaks down every form involved and where to get each one.
What is an RFC and why are people searching for a form to download?
RFC stands for Residual Functional Capacity. It is Social Security's formal measurement of what you can still do, physically and mentally, despite your impairments. The RFC drives the Step 4 and Step 5 decisions in SSA's five-step sequential evaluation, and it is one of the most important documents in your entire claim. Lose at the initial stage or at reconsideration, and the RFC assessment is almost always the fight on appeal.
People search for an 'RFC form download' for a few reasons. Their attorney mentions it. They see it referenced in a denial letter. Or they just want to know what SSA has on file about their functional limits. The search is reasonable. It also hits a wall: SSA does not publish a single consumer-facing PDF called the 'RFC Form' that you fill out and mail in.
What exists instead is a family of documents, some internal and some claimant-facing, that together build the RFC picture. Knowing which form does what, and where each one lives, is the real answer to this search. [1]
Which SSA forms actually make up a Residual Functional Capacity assessment?
SSA uses several different forms, and which one matters depends on who fills it out and whether the RFC is physical or mental. There is no one form that captures the whole thing.
| Form | Full name | Who fills it out | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSA-4734-F4-SUP | Physical Residual Functional Capacity Assessment | DDS medical consultant | Sitting, standing, walking, lifting, postural limits, environmental limits |
| SSA-4735 | Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment | DDS psychological consultant | Understanding, memory, concentration, social interaction, adaptation |
| SSA-787 | Medical Source Statement on Mental Abilities | Treating or examining doctor | Doctor's opinion on mental RFC |
| SSA-787A | Medical Source Statement on Physical Abilities | Treating or examining doctor | Doctor's opinion on physical RFC |
| SSA-3373-BK | Adult Function Report | Claimant | Daily activities, mobility, self-care, cognitive function |
| SSA-3441-BK | Disability Report, Appeal | Claimant | New or worsened conditions since last report |
The two forms DDS examiners use most are the SSA-4734-F4-SUP for physical limits and the SSA-4735 for mental limits. [2] These are internal worksheets. They are not mailed to claimants automatically. Your treating physician can complete a Medical Source Statement (SSA-787 or SSA-787A) and send it in, and that opinion feeds directly into how the DDS consultant rates your RFC.
The claimant-facing form people confuse most with the 'RFC form' is the SSA-3373-BK, the Adult Function Report. You fill that out when you first apply, and DDS uses your answers alongside your medical records to build the RFC. [3]
Where can you actually download RFC-related SSA forms?
SSA posts its public forms at ssa.gov/forms, searchable by form number. Here is where each relevant form lives as of 2025, and which one you probably want.
The SSA-3373-BK (Adult Function Report) is at ssa.gov/forms as a fillable PDF. If you are in the middle of an initial application or reconsideration, this is the form you should be completing. It asks about your daily activities, mobility, self-care, and cognitive function, and it is the claimant's main tool for shaping the RFC picture. [4]
The SSA-3441-BK (Disability Report, Appeal) is also at ssa.gov/forms. Use it when you are appealing a denial and need to update SSA on any condition changes.
The SSA-787 and SSA-787A (Medical Source Statements) are forms your doctor fills out. Download them from ssa.gov/forms and bring them to your physician's office. Good disability attorneys do exactly this. They hand the doctor a pre-printed Medical Source Statement and ask for it back at the next visit. A detailed, function-by-function opinion from your treating doctor carries real weight under SSA's rules, especially at the hearing level.
The internal DDS worksheets (SSA-4734-F4-SUP and SSA-4735) are not available for public download, because claimants do not complete them. DDS staff fill them out as part of your file. You can get completed copies by requesting your full claim file (sometimes called the 'exhibit file') from SSA after a denial, or through your attorney during an ALJ appeal. [5]
To request your file, call 1-800-772-1213 or send a written request to your local Social Security office. An attorney can pull the file electronically through SSA's Appointed Representative Services portal, which is usually faster.
How does SSA use the RFC to decide your claim?
The RFC decides two things: whether you can return to past work (Step 4) and whether any jobs in the national economy still fit you (Step 5). SSA's POMS section DI 24510.001 defines RFC as "the most you can still do despite your limitations," based on all relevant medical and non-medical evidence in the record. [6]
SSA sorts physical RFC into five exertional levels: sedentary (lift up to 10 lbs, mostly sitting), light (up to 20 lbs, with real walking and standing), medium (up to 50 lbs), heavy (up to 100 lbs), and very heavy (over 100 lbs). If DDS rates you at sedentary and you are 50 or older, the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, commonly called the 'Grid Rules,' can direct a finding of disabled without you having to prove no jobs exist. [7]
Mental RFC looks at four broad areas: understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction, and adaptation. Ratings run from 'not significantly limited' to 'markedly limited' to 'no useful ability to function.' One or two 'markedly limited' ratings in the sustained concentration category can rule out most unskilled sedentary jobs.
That is why the RFC matters so much. An RFC that says you can stand or walk six hours in an eight-hour day will likely get you denied if you are under 50. An RFC limiting you to sedentary work with significant non-exertional limits may qualify you under the Grid Rules or through a vocational expert's testimony. The gap between those two outcomes sometimes comes down to one thing: whether your doctor submitted a thorough Medical Source Statement.
What is the SSA-4734-F4-SUP and can you get a copy of yours?
The SSA-4734-F4-SUP is SSA's Physical Residual Functional Capacity Assessment form. DDS medical consultants complete it after reviewing the medical evidence in your file. It has six sections: exertional limits (lifting, carrying, standing, sitting), postural limits (climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling), manipulative limits (reaching, handling, fingering, feeling), visual limits, communicative limits, and environmental limits (heat, cold, vibration, hazards). [2]
You cannot submit this form yourself. You can get a copy of the completed one if SSA has already adjudicated your claim. After a denial, SSA must give you access to your full claim file before your hearing. Request it in writing and say specifically that you want all DDS worksheets and RFC assessments. In most cases your attorney will pull the file electronically instead.
When you read your SSA-4734-F4-SUP, check three things first. Do the lifting limits match what your records support? Do the standing and sitting limits reflect your doctor's treatment notes? Are any manipulative or postural limits checked at all? Errors in those three areas are worth flagging for your attorney, because a supplemental opinion from your treating physician can often fix them.
How do you get your doctor to fill out an RFC Medical Source Statement?
This is one of the most useful things you can do on your own. Download the SSA-787A (physical) or SSA-787 (mental) from ssa.gov/forms. Print it. Schedule an appointment with your treating physician just to go over it. Bring your last six months of treatment notes so the doctor can reference the record without digging.
Ask the doctor to complete the form in full. Vague answers like 'patient has some limitations' carry almost no weight at an ALJ hearing. The form asks for specific estimates: how long a person can sit before needing to shift, how many pounds they can lift occasionally versus frequently, how many days a month they would likely miss work because of symptoms. Specific, function-by-function answers tied to objective clinical findings carry far more weight. [8]
Some physicians are reluctant to fill these out, or just do not have time. Ask whether a nurse practitioner or PA in the practice can complete it with the physician's countersignature. ALJs generally accept cosigned statements from non-physician practitioners.
If you have a disability attorney, they will often draft a customized Medical Source Statement built around your specific conditions and send it to your doctor directly. That is one concrete thing a good attorney does that most claimants cannot easily match. See our SSDI lawyer guide for more on working with representation.
What is the Adult Function Report and how does it affect your RFC?
The SSA-3373-BK, the Adult Function Report, is the one RFC-related form you fill out yourself. It comes with your initial application packet, DDS may send it again during reconsideration, and some claimants are asked to complete it before a hearing. [4]
DDS adjudicators use your answers to calibrate the RFC, especially for non-exertional limits like concentration, social difficulty, and how long you can sustain an activity. SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) DI 22505.001 tells adjudicators to weigh the Adult Function Report alongside medical evidence when determining functional capacity. [6]
Here is where people cost themselves the claim. They say they 'can' do something because they have done it once or twice, when the accurate answer is that they cannot do it consistently, at a competitive pace, day after day. SSA's standard is not whether you can do an activity once. It is whether you can do it reliably, across an eight-hour workday, five days a week. Answer from that angle. If you can wash dishes for five minutes before pain forces you to stop and rest for thirty, write that down. A vague line like 'I do some housework' becomes ammunition for the DDS consultant to rate your physical RFC higher than your records justify.
Already sent in a vague Adult Function Report and now at the appeal stage? You can submit a written statement correcting or expanding your earlier answers. Your attorney can help you word it so it reads as clarification, not contradiction.
Can you download your full RFC assessment from MySocialSecurity online?
Not the full thing. The MySocialSecurity portal at ssa.gov/myaccount lets you view claim status and some basic information, but it does not give you access to the DDS worksheets or the completed SSA-4734-F4-SUP or SSA-4735. [9]
To get the full exhibit file, which includes the completed RFC assessments, you generally have two options. One, make a written request to SSA after a denial. Two, have an attorney or appointed representative pull the file through SSA's Appointed Representative Services (ARS) electronic portal. Option two is faster in most cases.
Representing yourself? Mail or fax a written request to your local Social Security office. Include your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and a clear request for "all DDS worksheets, medical consultant assessments, and RFC evaluations in my claim file." Processing times vary by office. Plan for two to six weeks.
This is where a platform built for organized claim documentation, like DisabilityFiled, helps you track what is in your file and what still needs to go in before your hearing date.
What happens if the RFC in your file is wrong or incomplete?
A bad RFC is the single most fixable problem in a disability claim. Here is the order I would work it.
First, get your file and read the completed SSA-4734-F4-SUP or SSA-4735. Compare it line by line with your treating doctor's notes and any imaging or test results. Look for spots where the DDS consultant checked 'unlimited' or 'not significantly limited' for something your records clearly document as restricted.
Second, if your treating doctor has not submitted a Medical Source Statement, get one before your hearing. An ALJ has to consider the whole record, and a detailed opinion from a long-term treating physician who knows your history can outweigh a DDS paper review done by someone who never examined you. [8]
Third, submit a written statement or brief to the ALJ, or have your attorney do it, pointing out the specific gaps between the RFC in the file and the medical evidence. ALJs respond to organized arguments with exhibit citations. Vague complaints go nowhere.
Fourth, if you lose at the ALJ level and the RFC was wrong, that is a strong basis for appeal to the Appeals Council or federal district court. The standard of review for RFC findings is whether they are supported by substantial evidence, and an RFC that ignores or mischaracterizes a treating physician's opinion may fall short of that standard. [10]
Nobody has clean public data on how often RFC corrections change hearing outcomes. What SSA's own numbers do show is that represented claimants are approved at higher rates at ALJ hearings, around 55 percent, than unrepresented ones. A large share of that gap is RFC evidence management. [11]
How does the RFC interact with the SSA Blue Book listing requirements?
This distinction trips up a lot of claimants. SSA's Blue Book (Listing of Impairments) and the RFC are two separate roads to a disability finding.
If your condition meets or medically equals a Blue Book listing, SSA finds you disabled at Step 3, and no RFC analysis is needed. If you do not meet a listing, SSA moves to the RFC analysis at Steps 4 and 5. Most claims get decided at the RFC stage rather than the listing stage, because Blue Book thresholds are strict. [12]
So the RFC is the main battleground for most SSDI and SSI claimants. Meeting a listing gets you there faster. But RFC analysis is the more common route by far. That is why the time you put into your Medical Source Statement and Adult Function Report is worth it even when your attorney is also arguing a listing. The RFC is the backup. For most people it turns out to be the main event.
More on qualifying conditions and what the Blue Book covers is in our guide to what counts as a disability under SSA's definition.
What should you actually do right now if you need RFC forms?
If you are in the middle of an initial application, download the SSA-3373-BK (Adult Function Report) from ssa.gov/forms and complete it carefully, using the eight-hour workday standard from earlier in this article. If SSA already mailed you one, fill out the paper version with the same care.
If you are preparing for an ALJ hearing, download the SSA-787A (physical) or SSA-787 (mental) Medical Source Statement, print it, and get it to your treating physician as soon as you can. Hearings are typically scheduled six to twelve months after you request them, so you have time. Start anyway. [11]
If you want to see the RFC already in your file, request your exhibit file in writing from SSA. If you have an attorney, ask them to pull the electronic file now and share the RFC worksheets with you.
Doing this without an attorney and your hearing is within three months? Get at least a consultation with a disability attorney. Most work on contingency, meaning no fee unless you win, and the fee is capped by law at 25 percent of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less (the 2024 cap; SSA adjusts it periodically). [13] Getting the RFC evidence right before the hearing is exactly the work where an experienced representative earns that fee.
You can also use DisabilityFiled's guided intake to organize your medical history and generate a usable claim summary, which gives you and your doctor a cleaner starting point for completing the Medical Source Statement accurately.
For the full picture of the application process and what to expect at each step, see our SSDI application guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a single PDF called the 'RFC form' that I can download from SSA?
No. SSA has no single form called the 'RFC Form.' The RFC assessment is built from several documents: the SSA-4734-F4-SUP (physical RFC, filled out by DDS staff), the SSA-4735 (mental RFC, filled out by DDS staff), and Medical Source Statements (SSA-787 or SSA-787A, filled out by your doctor). The claimant form that feeds into the RFC is the SSA-3373-BK Adult Function Report, at ssa.gov/forms.
Where do I download the Adult Function Report?
Go to ssa.gov/forms and search for SSA-3373-BK. It downloads as a fillable PDF. This is the form you complete as a claimant, describing your daily activities, functional limits, and how your condition affects your ability to work. Fill it out from the perspective of a full workday, five days a week, not your best day.
Can my doctor fill out an RFC form to support my disability claim?
Yes, and you should ask. Download SSA-787A (physical limits) or SSA-787 (mental limits) from ssa.gov/forms and bring it to your physician. A detailed Medical Source Statement from a treating doctor who knows your history can carry real weight at an ALJ hearing. Ask for specific functional estimates, not general statements like 'some limitations.'
How do I get a copy of the RFC assessment SSA already has in my file?
Request your complete exhibit file in writing from your local Social Security office, or have your attorney pull it electronically through SSA's Appointed Representative Services portal. Include your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and a request for all DDS worksheets and RFC assessments. Expect a two-to-six-week wait if you request by mail.
What is the SSA-4734-F4-SUP form?
The SSA-4734-F4-SUP is SSA's Physical Residual Functional Capacity Assessment worksheet. DDS medical consultants complete it after reviewing your medical records. It rates your limits in six categories: exertional (lifting, standing, sitting), postural (climbing, stooping), manipulative (reaching, handling), visual, communicative, and environmental. You cannot submit this yourself, but you can obtain your completed copy after a denial.
What is the difference between the SSA-4734 (physical RFC) and SSA-4735 (mental RFC)?
The SSA-4734-F4-SUP covers physical limits: how much you can lift, how long you can stand or sit, postural and manipulative restrictions. The SSA-4735 covers mental limits: memory, concentration, social interaction, and ability to adapt. DDS consultants fill out both. If your claim involves physical and mental impairments, SSA may complete both forms.
Can I fill out an RFC assessment form myself to submit to SSA?
The internal DDS RFC worksheets are not claimant-submitted forms. But you shape the RFC through the Adult Function Report (SSA-3373-BK) and through your treating doctor's Medical Source Statement. Your answers on the Adult Function Report directly influence how DDS rates your functional capacity, so completing it carefully and specifically is one of the most productive things you can do.
How does the RFC affect whether I am approved or denied for SSDI?
The RFC decides what kind of work, if any, SSA believes you can still do. If your RFC limits you to sedentary work and you are 50 or older, the Grid Rules may direct a finding of disabled. If your RFC allows light or medium work and you are younger, SSA checks whether jobs exist in the national economy you can still do. A more restrictive RFC raises your approval odds significantly.
What if SSA's RFC assessment doesn't match my doctor's records?
This is common and correctable. Get your claim file, compare the DDS RFC worksheet to your treatment notes and imaging, and find the specific discrepancies. Then ask your treating doctor to complete a Medical Source Statement (SSA-787 or SSA-787A) with detailed, function-by-function findings. Submit it before your ALJ hearing. An attorney can also file a written brief pointing out the evidentiary errors to the ALJ.
Does SSA's RFC assessment affect SSI claims the same way it affects SSDI claims?
Yes. SSA uses the same five-step sequential evaluation and the same RFC framework for both SSI and SSDI claims. The RFC analysis works identically. The difference between SSDI and SSI is the funding source and eligibility criteria, not the medical evaluation. Learn more about both programs in the SSI guide.
Can I download an RFC form for a child's disability claim?
Children's SSI claims use a different functional framework, not the RFC. SSA evaluates children under a 'domains' model, rating function in six areas: acquiring and using information, attending and completing tasks, interacting and relating with others, moving about and manipulating objects, caring for yourself, and health and physical well-being. The claimant form for a child's claim is the SSA-3375-BK Child Function Report, at ssa.gov/forms.
What is the maximum attorney fee SSA allows if I win my disability claim?
As of 2024, SSA caps the attorney fee for disability claims at 25 percent of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less. SSA adjusts this cap periodically. Attorneys collect nothing unless you win. The fee comes out of your back pay, so you do not pay out of pocket. This cap applies to both SSDI and SSI claims at the administrative level.
Is there a deadline to submit an RFC Medical Source Statement before my ALJ hearing?
SSA generally requires evidence to be submitted at least five business days before the hearing date, though ALJs may accept later submissions at their discretion. Aim for at least 30 days out, to give your attorney time to review it and the ALJ's office time to add it to the exhibit file. Earlier is always better.
How long does SSA take to process an RFC assessment at the initial application stage?
Initial processing times vary widely by state and DDS office, but the national average in 2023 ran roughly three to six months for an initial decision. The RFC is usually completed toward the end of that window, after DDS has gathered your medical records. Reconsideration adds another three to five months on average if the initial claim is denied.
Sources
- SSA, Program Operations Manual System (POMS) DI 24510.001: RFC Assessment: RFC is defined as 'the most you can still do despite your limitations,' assessed using all relevant medical and non-medical evidence
- SSA, SSA-4734-F4-SUP Physical Residual Functional Capacity Assessment form instructions: SSA-4734-F4-SUP is the internal DDS form for physical RFC, covering exertional, postural, manipulative, visual, communicative, and environmental limitations
- SSA, Adult Function Report SSA-3373-BK: The SSA-3373-BK Adult Function Report is a claimant-facing form used by DDS to help assess functional capacity alongside medical records
- SSA, Disability Report - Appeal SSA-3441-BK: The SSA-3441-BK Disability Report Appeal form is available on ssa.gov/forms and is used to update SSA on condition changes during an appeal
- SSA, How to Request Your Social Security Records: Claimants can request their complete claim file including DDS worksheets by contacting SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or through a local office
- SSA, POMS DI 22505.001: Evaluation of Function Reports: POMS DI 22505.001 instructs adjudicators to consider the Adult Function Report alongside medical evidence when determining functional capacity
- SSA, Medical-Vocational Guidelines (Grid Rules), 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2: SSA classifies physical RFC into sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy; sedentary RFC for claimants 50 and older may direct a finding of disabled under Grid Rules
- SSA, Medical Source Statements, POMS DI 22505.003: A detailed Medical Source Statement from a treating physician carries significant weight at the ALJ hearing level; specific function-by-function findings backed by clinical findings are required
- SSA, my Social Security Online Account: MySocialSecurity provides claim status information but does not provide access to completed DDS RFC worksheets or the full exhibit file
- SSA, Appeals Council Review Process, 20 CFR 404.967: The standard of review for RFC findings is whether they are supported by substantial evidence; an RFC that ignores a treating physician's opinion may be vulnerable on appeal
- SSA Office of Hearings Operations, ALJ Hearing Disposition Data FY2023: Claimants represented by attorneys are approved at approximately 55 percent at ALJ hearings; SSA's own data shows representation improves approval rates significantly
- SSA, Listing of Impairments (Blue Book), 20 CFR Part 404 Subpart P Appendix 1: If a condition meets or medically equals a Blue Book listing, SSA finds disability at Step 3 without needing an RFC analysis; most claims are decided at the RFC stage because Blue Book thresholds are strict
- SSA, Fee Agreements for Claimant Representatives, POMS GN 03940.003: As of 2024, SSA caps the attorney fee at 25 percent of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less; SSA adjusts this cap periodically