What is the Social Security Adult Function Report?

After spending 90 minutes walking a client through the myriad questions on the Social Security Disability application, I and the client generally breathe a sigh of relief.  It would be nice if the application was a “one and done”, but often it is not.  Instead, submitting the initial application generates a round of follow-up forms.

One of the forms that a claimant is likely to receive as a follow-up to her/his Social Security Disability application is the SSA 3373 BK Adult Function Report.  The form provides the opportunity for the claimant to explain in detail how her/his impairments limit activities of daily living, both the basic ones like bathing, dressing, and eating and the instrumental ones such as managing money and health care and communicating with others.  The form provides important input because while medical records are good at documenting diagnoses, they are not designed to describe the impact of a diagnosis on someone’s ability to function in everyday life.  And the same diagnosis may affect different people at entirely different levels.  That is why the instructions for completing the form specifically state “Do not ask a doctor or hospital to complete this form.”  Because this form is designed to illicit as much information as possible across a wide range of activities, certain questions may not apply to a certain applicant’s situation.  To make it clear that the question does not apply, the instructions request that the applicant indicate that.  And finally, the instructions encourage detailed explanations.

Because this is the Social Security Administration and because “disability” for a person over the age of 18 is conditioned largely on that person’s capacity for paid employment, the first question the form asks, after a few demographic questions, is: “How do your illnesses, injuries or conditions limit your ability to work?”  This is a crucial question and merits close attention.  In answering, you will want to consider physical limitations, such as difficulties lifting, carrying, reaching, balancing, seeing or hearing, or even traveling too and from the workplace; mental limitations, such as difficulties remembering or processing instructions or customer or coworker requests; emotional or behavioral limitations, such as difficulties concentrating, persisting or maintaining pace, interacting with others, or processing sensory input; and communication limitations, such as the need to use an augmented communication device.  You will also want to discuss work-hour limitations due to therapies, appointments, or treatments as well as side effects from treatments or medication.

The next section of the form asks how well you can perform basic tasks for yourself, for others (family members, pets), and around your living quarters and the attached outdoors.  In this section, it is important to consider how much help you might need with any of these tasks, particularly on a “worst” day.  For example, when the form asks about preparing meals, be clear if you can only microwave a frozen item or pour a bowl of cereal on the days when your impairment(s) impact you the most.  If you can do laundry and clean the kitchen, but you have to stop and rest every 15 minutes, be clear about that.  If you don’t drive because of vision, hearing, or concentration impairment, give the details.  If you shop primarily online because sounds, lights, and smells of big-box stores and malls are overwhelming, then you need to say that.  If you can use a debit card, but you cannot keep track of your spending or balance your checkbook, say that too.

The next section asks about interests and social activities.  Be clear about any limitations in these areas because this information can provide evidence of physical impairment (you tire easily or cannot walk without pain), mental impairment (you cannot remember or follow directions) or emotional/behavioral impairment (you no longer enjoy doing things that you use to).  For this section, as well as the previous sections, the form will occasionally ask how things are different  since your “illness, injury or conditions” began.  If you have a genetic, developmental or intellectual disability, or any condition that started or was diagnosed in early childhood, you will want to reinforce that by answering “I have had this disability since birth” or “since early childhood” or “I have always had this condition.”

The next section  is labeled “Information about abilities”.  It should be labeled “Information about abilities that you might need at work”, since that is the context in which the SSA will be evaluating any information you provide here.  This section covers physical abilities in the areas of mobility, agility, strength, and stamina; mental abilities such as following instructions; and behavioral abilities such as getting along with supervisors and handling stress.  The last section is concrete, asking about medical devises and medications.  At the very end, there is a “remarks” section in which you can add information that you think is important (but that is not covered anywhere else), or in which you can elaborate on information you started to provide in previous sections before you ran out of space to type.  It helps to keep in the back of your mind that the SSA is always applying your information to the question: “How much can this person earn by working?”

The SSA 3373 BK has a companion form, the SSA 3380 BK, Adult Function Report, Third Party.  This report asks essentially the same questions as the SSA 3373 but from the vantage point of someone else who knows you well; for example, a family member.  You and the person, who receives the SSA 3380, can both complete your forms—the added depth from a second perspective may enhance support for your application.  Alternatively, if you disability prevents you from completing the form in any meaningful way, you can write exactly that across the top of your form and submit it with only that, while your family member submits the corresponding SSA 3380 with the necessary details.

When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits, it often seems that the SSA has the upper hand.  The Administration structured the programs, wrote the definitions, and put in place all the rules.  The SSA 3373 is your opportunity to tell your story, present the real challenges that you face and advance your claim for SSI or SSDI.  Take advantage of it!