Adult Function Report

The Adult  Function Report, also referred to as an ADL (activities of daily living) questionnaire, is officially known as form SSA-3373. This 10-page form is comprised of five sections and is usually sent after you have filed your initial application. 

The Adult Function Report provides detailed information to the SSA about how your condition impacts your life from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep. Certain sections of the Adult Function Report ask claimants to explain how their condition hinders day-to-day function and how that condition restricts them from working. It’s important to use this form to describe what you go through every day in thorough detail.

Do not write a book. Most people think they should include their life story. You should not. Keep your answers short and to the point. Do not write a lot. Most of the time Social Security uses these form to find you not disabled because of what you write on these forms. I have never had a case where the function report was used to find a person disabled. I have seen plenty of cases where judges have used the function report to find a person not disabled. 

Don’t rush. Think about all the changes to your daily life due to your disability. Providing as many details about these life adjustments will make your case stronger. The SSA does not get the opportunity to see you physically during the application process, so they have to rely on your medical records and the Adult Function Report to understand why you cannot work.

Review your Adult Function Report and imagine how a review panel or judge would view your answers. Some questions on the report can be confusing to claimants. If you don’t fully understand a question or feel you may have written something that may harm your case, it’s a good idea to arrange a consultation with a knowledgeable disability lawyer to learn if you can clarify the information.

Don’t volunteer anything especially any activities. 

Keep your answer short – you don’t need more space than is provided. Do not use any added space unless you really have to add something that is very important. 

Try to figure out how Social Security can relate your answer to the question to your disability or if they can turn your answer into a job.

Take each question seriously even if it seems stupid or embarrassing to you.

Avoid using words like “never,” “always,” and “definitely”.

Make sure to address all your impairments in the form not just some. Often people will address just their mental or physical impairment, that is a mistake. 

Disability attorneys understand how to effectively and comprehensively answer the questions on the Adult Function Report, as well as how to gather the other medical records and documentation necessary to support your claim. An experienced lawyer can also help you clarify information in a way that will be most helpful to your disability case and support you in determining which ADLs to include on the form.

If you need help applying for Social Security Disability or SSI, please contact me at joshben99@gmail.com. I have over 20 years experience with Social Security Disability cases. I handle cases all over the United States. 

Location: Michigan, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sample questions you may be asked at your social security hearing

  Every case is different; no list will contain EVERY question an administrative law judge might ask, and the questions may not be asked in exactly this way, or in this order, but this information should help prevent you from feeling like questions are coming at you from “left field.” Going over this list will also spur you to think about things you might not have previously considered (such as how long you can sit, stand, walk or concentrate). You will NOT be asked every single question on this list and it is NOT useful to try to memorize answers to the questions. Just read over the list in the days before your hearing. Of course, this list should NOT be construed as legal advice pertaining to your case, and by providing it, I am not acting as your lawyer. My intention is just to provide some really helpful, general information. I. INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION Name – address – date of birth Marital Status and maiden name Former spouse information Do you live in a house, apartment, or mobi
Read more

Frequency of Medical Treatment

The frequency of your medical treatment is an important factor in your Social Security disability claim. A diagnosis is a first step, but a judge must evaluate your functional limitations due to your medical condition. And when evaluating the seriousness of your functional limitations, regular doctor visits are helpful. Looking at the cases of mine that were not granted in the past year or so, the lack of medical treatment played a role in almost every one. There a lots of reasons not to go to the doctor. There are co-pays. Sometimes there is little the doctor can do for you. Perhaps you do not want to complain to the doctor about your daily struggles. But without regular doctor visits, you may have an uphill battle for disability benefits. Also, the more the doctor sees you and is familiar with your condition, the more likely that the doctor will provide an opinion regarding your functional limitations. Those opinions are often the most persuasive medical evidence available to a perso
Read more

Covid Long Haul and Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability is a federal program to assist individuals who suffer from long-term disabilities that will keep them from working for 12 months or longer. This program is funded through payroll taxes that everyone sees on their pay stubs.  Applying for SSDI as a COVID long-hauler is a bit of a complex topic at this point. Due to the associated symptoms of long COVID, it is reasonable to connect having the disease and qualifying for disability benefits. However, every case is individually considered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before approval, and there are plenty of cases that are later approved after being initially denied.  Long COVID, or long-haul COVID, is a term to describe a syndrome where symptoms continue months after a coronavirus infection. Researchers think that 10% to 30% of patients who had COVID infections might suffer from long COVID, or "post-COVID syndrome," whether their initial illness was serious or not. Some researchers define
Read more