If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you may receive Form SSA-3373, also known as the Function Report. This comprehensive form asks detailed questions about how your medical condition affects your daily activities, work capabilities, and overall functioning. While it may seem overwhelming at first glance, understanding its purpose and knowing how to complete it thoroughly can significantly strengthen your disability claim.
We will walk you through every section of the Function Report, explain why each question matters to your case, and provide practical tips for giving complete, accurate responses. You’ll learn what Social Security disability examiners are looking for, common mistakes to avoid, and strategies for presenting your limitations clearly and convincingly. By the end, you’ll feel confident about completing this critical form and moving forward with your disability benefits application.
What You Need to Know Before Starting
The Function Report serves as a crucial piece of evidence in your disability determination. Social Security uses this form to understand how your medical conditions impact your ability to perform daily activities and work-related tasks. The information you provide helps disability examiners assess the severity of your limitations and determine whether you meet Social Security’s definition of disability.
Who Must Complete This Form:
- Initial SSDI and SSI applicants
- Individuals undergoing continuing disability reviews
- Claimants appealing previous denials
The form typically arrives 2-4 weeks after you file your initial application. You have 20 days from the date you receive it to complete and return the form. If you need additional time, contact your local Social Security office immediately to request an extension.
Key Information Box: Critical Deadlines
- Response deadline: 20 days from receipt
- Extension requests: Must be made before the deadline
- Late submissions: May delay your claim or result in denial
- Best practice: Complete within 10-14 days to allow for mailing time
Understanding the Function Report’s Purpose
Social Security disability examiners use your Function Report responses alongside medical records, work history, and other evidence to evaluate your claim. The form focuses on your functional capacity rather than just your medical diagnoses. Examiners want to understand how your conditions prevent you from working, even in jobs that accommodate some limitations.
The report covers several key areas:
- Daily living activities and self-care abilities
- Household tasks and responsibilities
- Social interactions and relationships
- Concentration, memory, and cognitive abilities
- Physical limitations and mobility issues
- Mental health symptoms and their impact
Remember that Social Security considers your “residual functional capacity” – what you can still do despite your limitations. Be honest about both your restrictions and any abilities you retain.
Step-by-Step Completion Guide
Section 1: Personal Information and Medical Conditions
Start by carefully reviewing your basic information for accuracy. List all medical conditions that affect your ability to work, not just your primary diagnosis. Include both physical and mental health conditions, even if they seem minor or unrelated.
Pro Tip: Use the same condition names that appear in your medical records to maintain consistency throughout your claim.
Section 2: Daily Activities
This section requires detailed descriptions of your typical day from morning to evening. Social Security wants to understand your routine, limitations, and how much help you need from others.
What to Include:
- How long it takes to complete basic tasks
- Whether you need reminders or assistance
- Pain levels or symptoms during activities
- Frequency of rest breaks required
- Modifications you’ve made to accommodate limitations
Be specific about timing and assistance. Instead of writing “I have trouble getting dressed,” explain: “Getting dressed takes 30-45 minutes due to joint stiffness and pain. I need help with buttons and reaching behind my back for zippers.”
Section 3: Personal Care and Household Tasks
Document your abilities and limitations with:
- Bathing and grooming
- Meal preparation
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Shopping and errands
- Managing finances and medications
For each activity, explain what you can do independently, what requires assistance, and what you cannot do at all. Include adaptive equipment you use and how often you need help from family or friends.
Section 4: Social Activities and Relationships
Social functioning is a critical component of disability evaluation, especially for mental health conditions. Describe:
- Changes in your social activities since becoming disabled
- Difficulty maintaining relationships
- Anxiety or problems in social situations
- Isolation or withdrawal patterns
- Communication challenges
Section 5: Concentration and Mental Abilities
This section is crucial for both physical and mental impairments. Many physical conditions affect cognitive function through pain, fatigue, or medication side effects.
Address These Areas:
- Attention span and focus duration
- Memory problems (short-term and long-term)
- Following written or verbal instructions
- Completing tasks without supervision
- Making decisions and handling stress
Provide specific examples of how concentration problems affect your daily life, such as forgetting appointments, losing track of conversations, or being unable to follow multi-step directions.
Required Documentation and Supporting Evidence
While the Function Report itself doesn’t require attachments, having certain documents nearby will help you provide accurate, consistent information:
Medical Records: Review recent doctor’s notes, test results, and treatment summaries to ensure your descriptions align with documented symptoms and limitations.
Medication Lists: Include current prescriptions, dosages, and side effects that impact your functioning.
Work History: Reference your past jobs to accurately describe how your current limitations would prevent you from performing previous work duties.
Daily Activity Journal: If you’ve been keeping a symptom diary or activity log, use it to provide specific examples and timeframes.
Common Supporting Documents:
- Treatment notes from doctors and therapists
- Hospital discharge summaries
- Mental health evaluations
- Physical therapy assessments
- Assistive device prescriptions
Timeline Expectations and Next Steps
After submitting your completed Function Report, Social Security will review it alongside your other claim evidence. The initial disability determination process typically takes 3-5 months, though complex cases may take longer.
What Happens Next:
- Your assigned disability examiner reviews all submitted evidence
- Medical records are requested from your healthcare providers
- Additional forms or consultative examinations may be scheduled
- A disability determination is made
- You receive a written decision notice
During this waiting period, continue following your prescribed treatments and keep detailed records of your symptoms and limitations. If your condition worsens, notify Social Security immediately with updated medical documentation.
Timeline Factors That May Cause Delays:
- Incomplete or missing medical records
- Need for additional consultative examinations
- Complex medical conditions requiring specialist review
- High caseload volumes at your local disability office
Tips for Accurate and Effective Responses
Be Specific and Detailed: Vague answers like “I have pain” don’t help examiners understand your limitations. Instead, describe the pain’s intensity, frequency, location, and how it affects specific activities.
Focus on Your Worst Days: While symptoms may fluctuate, emphasize your most challenging days when completing the form. Social Security needs to understand your limitations during symptom flares or bad episodes.
Include All Relevant Conditions: Don’t focus solely on your primary diagnosis. Secondary conditions, medication side effects, and mental health symptoms all contribute to your overall functional limitations.
Use Your Own Words: Write responses in your natural language style. Avoid copying medical terminology from your records unless you truly understand and commonly use those terms.
Consider Assistance: If you have trouble with writing, concentration, or understanding questions, ask a trusted family member or friend to help you complete the form. They can write your responses while you dictate, but the information should reflect your experiences and perspective.
Key Information Box: Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Minimizing limitations: Don’t downplay your struggles to appear strong
- Inconsistent information: Ensure responses align with medical records
- Missing deadlines: Submit the form within the required timeframe
- Illegible handwriting: Type responses or write clearly in dark ink
- Incomplete answers: Address every question, even if briefly
What Disability Examiners Look For
Understanding how Social Security evaluates Function Reports can help you provide more effective responses. Examiners assess your descriptions for:
Consistency: Your reported limitations should align with medical evidence and other claim documentation. Significant discrepancies may raise questions about the accuracy of your statements.
Credibility: Specific, detailed examples of functional limitations are more convincing than general complaints. Examiners look for concrete evidence that your conditions substantially impact your daily life.
Severity: Social Security must determine whether your limitations are severe enough to prevent all work activity. Focus on how your conditions interfere with work-related functions like concentration, physical tasks, and interpersonal interactions.
Persistence: Disability benefits require long-term limitations. Emphasize symptoms and restrictions that have lasted or are expected to last at least 12 months.
Getting Help with Your Function Report
Completing the Function Report can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with pain, fatigue, or other symptoms. Several resources can provide assistance:
Free Resources:
- Social Security Administration customer service: 1-800-772-1213
- Local Social Security field offices
- Disability advocacy organizations
- Community legal aid clinics
Professional Assistance: While you can complete the Function Report independently, some people benefit from professional guidance. Disability attorneys and advocates can review your responses for completeness and consistency before submission. Most disability representatives work on a contingency basis, meaning they only receive payment if your claim is approved.
Remember that Social Security provides this form free of charge, and completing it is part of the standard application process. Be wary of companies that charge fees for Function Report completion or claim to have “special” versions of the form.
Following Up After Submission
Once you’ve submitted your Function Report, keep copies of all pages for your records. Note the date you mailed or delivered the form, and consider using certified mail to confirm receipt.
Stay Engaged in the Process:
- Respond promptly to any additional information requests
- Attend scheduled consultative examinations
- Keep Social Security informed of address changes
- Continue following prescribed medical treatments
If you don’t hear from Social Security within 60 days of submitting your Function Report, contact your local field office to verify they received your form and inquire about your claim’s status.
Remember: The disability determination process can be lengthy and sometimes frustrating, but completing your Function Report thoroughly and accurately is a crucial step toward receiving the benefits you need and deserve.
Taking the time to provide detailed, honest responses about your daily struggles and limitations gives Social Security the information needed to make an informed decision about your claim. While no single form guarantees approval, a well-completed Function Report significantly strengthens your case and demonstrates the real-world impact of your medical conditions.
Your experiences matter, and documenting them clearly through the Function Report is an important step toward securing the disability benefits that can provide financial stability during this challenging time.