How to Fill Out the SSA Adult Function Report
When you’re applying for Social Security Disability, you’ve got to fill out a lot of forms. One of the most important ones is the Adult Function Report, which is Form SSA-3373.
This form asks you to describe in great detail what your everyday, personal life is like, literally from the moment you wake up until you go to bed at night.
This is one of the most likely forms the Social Security Administration (SSA) will ask you to complete.
You need to be smart about how you answer its questions, because Social Security will use the information you provide—whether you can cook meals, take care of pets, do chores, go shopping, pursue hobbies, do social activities and more— to decide if you’re healthy enough to work.
And you must show you’re unable to work a significant amount to qualify for Social Security Disability.
Don’t downplay or exaggerate what you can do when you fill out this form. But make sure to provide a level of detail that gives Social Security a clear idea of how your health conditions interfere with your routine functioning.
On this page, our Utah disability attorneys at Barnes Disability Advocates offer advice on answering Form SSA-3373.
And if you work with us as your disability attorneys, we can guide you in filling out this form, forms about your work history and the many other items that Social Security Disability requires.
Tips on Completing the Social Security Adult Function Report
Social Security will compare the information you give on the Adult Function Report to your medical records to determine how your medical condition affects your daily life.
If you don’t have limitations in your daily activities, it’s going to be difficult to win disability benefits. This form is a perfect opportunity to paint a picture so the claims examiner (the decision-maker) at Social Security understands your story.
There are a couple of keys to filling out a good Function Report:
1. Be honest. If your form tells a story of being practically bedridden when you’re not, you will lose all credibility and may lose your claim. If you’re honest, your story should be similar to the one that your medical providers are painting through your medical records. That kind of consistency matters greatly in a Social Security Disability claim.
2. Use the “Yes, but” statement. It is OK if there are things you can do. The best way to answer their questions is to say, “Yes, I can do that, but I am limited in this way.” For example, “Yes, I can get dressed, but I have to sit to put on my pants.” Or “Yes, I can cook my own meals, but I can only stand long enough to make a sandwich or put something in the microwave.” Those qualifiers after the “but” add details and show your limitations.
3. Focus on worst or average days, not the best days. To give a clear picture for Social Security, make sure to focus on what normal days are like. Chances are your normal is different from someone who doesn’t have your health challenges. This is not a job interview where you want to show your best self. We want Social Security to understand your reality. Describing only your best days may focus the claims examiner’s attention on how well you function, rather than on your limitations.
What Is on the SSA Adult Function Report, SSA-3373?
Let’s walk through the sections of the Social Security Disability Adult Function Report.
Section A
Section A asks for basic information, including your name, Social Security number and contact information.
Section B
In Section B, you explain why your limitations prevent you from working. Expert Advice: Consider skipping it until after you finish the rest of the form to warm up your brain and be able to focus on how your symptoms limit your abilities at work. Avoid vague statements. Be concrete.
Less Effective: “It makes it hard to hold objects.”
More Effective: “Because my stroke caused numbness on my right side, I am no longer able to use my right arm to lift more than five pounds. This makes it difficult to carry objects of substantial weight, which prevents me from performing many work-related tasks.”
Section C
Less Effective: “I have difficulty using stairs.”
More Effective: “I have difficulty climbing stairs and must stop frequently to rest. I am unable to climb a full flight of stairs without assistance and cannot safely carry objects while using the stairs.”
The section also asks about dressing, bathing, caring for your hair, shaving and feeding yourself. Some of these questions may seem too personal embarrassing, but they are important in getting Social Security to understand how your condition affects your daily life.
You’ll be asked to describe what you do from the time you wake up until you go to bed. This question is so sweeping that it seems difficult. It’s often easiest to break your day into morning, midday and evening periods.
Morning: What do you do after you wake up? Are you able to shower, brush your teeth and prepare breakfast? Do you have to take breaks? Do you stay in bed longer because your condition makes it difficult to get up?
Midday: Are you able to prepare lunch? Can you eat regular-sized meals? Do you need to take a nap or rest after completing household chores? Are you able to walk to your mailbox? What happens when you go grocery shopping?
Evening: Are there medications you must take at night? Can you clean your home at the end of the day, or are you too fatigued or in too much pain? Do you need to go to bed early because of your condition?
Social Security is not looking for a perfect schedule. Claims reviewers simply want an accurate picture of the activities you can complete, or what you struggle with, during a typical day. Again, it is OK to be able to do things but make sure you highlight the ways in which what you can do is different because of your health issues.
Do you care for others? For this question, explain exactly what you are able or unable to do. For example, if you have a child but cannot take them to school or prepare meals because of your condition and must rely on someone else, include that information.
Section D
Section D addresses your specific physical and mental abilities. As with the previous sections, it’s important to provide realistic estimates of what you can do while also highlighting how you might do them differently because of your conditions. The “but” statement can also be a handy way to address these questions.
For example, if you cannot lift more than ten pounds, explain why. “I cannot lift more than ten pounds because of my back injury. It is difficult for me to bend down to pick up objects, and I am unable to safely lift items above my shoulders because my back is not strong enough.”
When describing your ability to get along with others, explain how your condition affects your relationships. “I am no longer able to spend time with family or friends because my chronic pain causes me to become irritable and frustrated, making it difficult for me to enjoy social interactions.”
Providing detailed explanations like these helps Social Security better understand the extent of your condition.
The Remarks Section
The Remarks section gives you the opportunity to provide additional explanations for questions that didn’t leave enough space for your full answer.
For example, you could write:
“Question 6 continued:” Then write your full explanation.
This form can be difficult and overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that Social Security is not sending it to intimidate you.
They are requesting this information so they can accurately evaluate your functional abilities. This is your chance to make them understand what your daily life is like because of your conditions. Use the opportunity to tell your story.
Avoiding Mistakes on the Social Security Disability Adult Function Report
Here are some common mistakes people make on the Adult Function Report as they apply for disability benefits.
Providing Insufficient Detail
- Detailed responses are essential. Specific examples are often more helpful than brief statements.
Underreporting Symptoms
- Some individuals minimize their symptoms out of pride, embarrassment or a desire to appear independent. But it’s important to provide an honest and complete description of your limitations so the SSA can accurately evaluate your claim.
Exaggerating Symptoms
- Claimants should also avoid overstating symptoms or limitations. Social Security will discover it if you exaggerate. They’ll see medical records, treatment notes and other evidence. Inconsistent information can hurt your claim.
Inaccurate Work Activity Descriptions
- The SSA reviews employment records and work history information. So accurately describe the jobs you held, the duties performed and the limitations that affected your work performance.
Why Accuracy Matters
Accuracy is one of the most important aspects of the Social Security Disability process.
The SSA relies on the information provided by you, medical providers, employers and other sources when making disability decisions.
Providing accurate information helps…
- Reduce delays in claim processing.
- Prevent requests for additional information.
- Improve communication between you and the SSA.
- Ensure that your medical evidence aligns with statements made on forms.
Errors, omissions or inconsistencies may result in delays while the SSA seeks clarification or requests additional documentation. And it already takes too long to win benefits without extra delays.
Many disability claims are denied initially. Because of this, providing complete and accurate information from the beginning is extremely important.
While no amount of paperwork guarantees approval, thorough and accurate responses help the SSA evaluate a claim based on the most complete information available.
The length of time required to process forms varies. Even after Social Security receives a form, they may not review it immediately.
Keep copies of all submitted documents, maintain records of communications and follow up when necessary.
Any Time You Have Questions, Our Utah Disability Attorneys Can Help
Applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be a lengthy and sometimes difficult process.
Understanding the purpose of the various forms and completing them accurately can reduce delays and ensure that the Social Security Administration has the information it needs to evaluate a claim.
Carefully review all of your forms, provide complete and truthful information, keep copies and promptly respond to requests from the SSA.
Whether you complete forms independently or work with a disability lawyer, accuracy and attention to detail are essential.
Any time you have a question, you can contact the Social Security Administration.
You can also call Barnes Disability Advocates in St. George, Lehi, Salt Lake City and across Utah.
Our motto is EVERYONE MATTERS. We treat every disability benefits claim, and even every form you have to fill out, like it matters—because it does.
