Today, let’s take a step back and look at some big-picture stuff. We need to talk about some of the things we were all taught when we were growing up. Our parents and teachers were just trying to help us be good, polite, responsible members of society, but some of the habits we learned as kids can really count against us when applying for Social Security disability benefits.
How is that possible?
Humans are conditioned from a very young age to be sociable and polite, get along with others, and work together as part of a family and community. In general, that is a very good and helpful thing. But this also means that if someone asks us how are doing, we naturally default to “I’m fine!” We don’t discuss difficulties, hardships, or problems that we are having.
This “I’m doing fine!” reflex frequently causes major issues when it comes to one specific form filled out when applying for Social Security disability benefits. And, your answers here are important, because they can play a big part in whether your disability claim is approved or denied.
SSA-3373
The Adult Function Report, or form SSA-3373, asks questions about your daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, driving, and taking care of yourself.
People tend to want complete this form almost like they are filling out a job application or a dating profile. They want their answers to sound good and be impressive, and so they answer the questions from a very positive perspective. All of their abilities are based on them having a great day, they focus on the most that they are capable of doing, and gloss over any difficulties. Unfortunately, that tends to paint a picture of your health that shows it better than it really is.
That is a big mistake, but one that most people naturally make.
Why do we do that?
Most people have spent a lifetime answering the standard greeting of “How are you?” with the standard answer “I’m fine!” even if they aren’t. This automatic response is expected and encouraged for so many reasons:
- It isn’t polite to talk about yourself.
- Discussing your health makes conversations awkward.
- People will judge you or reject you if you have any problems.
- You should avoid long, complicated explanations because no one actually cares
- Nobody has time to listen to your problems.
- You shouldn’t open yourself up by admitting the truth. It makes you vulnerable.
- If you tell anyone your problems, you will become a burden.
- People will think that you just want pity or are being difficult.
- Telling people about your problems just brings others down and causes conflict.
And, as anyone with health issues knows, summing up deep pain, stress, and the emotion that comes with it takes a lot of energy.
So, how should we answer these questions?
When filling out The Adult Function Report, we need to actively remind ourselves not to gloss over problems and difficulties. The entire purpose of this report is to make sure Social Security gets a complete and accurate picture of how your health limitations affect your daily life.
Answer the questions based on what your life looks like on an average day, so the SSA understands your baseline limitations. Do not describe how you function on a rare, high-energy day, or what you could do if you pushed yourself as hard as possible without worrying about how it affected you the next day. That can make it sound like you are able to do much more than you normally can. You could actually sabotage your own disability claim without realizing it.
For example, when asked if you cook, you might answer yes automatically. But maybe you only...
- Make simple meals because you cannot stand long enough to cook a full meal.
- Cook once or twice a week instead of every night, because you don’t have the energy.
- Microwave foods so that you won’t leave the stove on accidentally.
Those details matter, just like the difference between:
- Being able to drive yourself and being able to drive only short distances in your immediate neighborhood and never at night.
- Having no problems with daily hygiene and being able to shower only if you are seated in a shower chair, and needing a nap afterwards.
- Doing regular loads of laundry yourself or needing someone else to carry the basket or put the clothes away.
We are not talking about exaggerating anyone’s problems or condition in this form. We are trying to stop you from automatically answering the questions without considering the exceptions or limitations that you deal with.
The doctors at the disability determination office may actually quote your answers from this form when explaining why they believe you are not disabled. That is why completing it accurately and honestly is so important.
What should I keep in mind?
The Adult Function Report needs to be a realistic look at what you can and cannot do, so that the SSA makes the correct decision in your disability case. In order to accurately explain that, you will need to discuss your stamina and pacing, struggles, abilities, limitations, and restrictions.
Remember these guidelines:
1. Be honest and not embarrassed about your struggles.
After you wake up in the morning, if you need to lie still for 30 minutes waiting for your pain pills to kick in before you can move, that needs to be explained. If you can do basic tasks, but also require three naps a day, write that down. If you are asked “Do you have any problems getting along with family, friends, neighbors, or others?” and you know that you have become grumpy and short-tempered when you are in pain, tired, and frustrated, write it down and explain why. This isn’t a moral failing, it is a symptom of the health problems you are experiencing.
2. Focus on your symptoms, not the diagnosis that is causing the symptoms.
The SSA already knows your diagnosis from your medical files. On this form, they want to know how the symptoms limit you. Instead of writing “I have severe arthritis,” write “My hands swell and cramp, making it impossible to hold a pen for more than two minutes.”
3. No short answers.
It is very easy to read these questions, use your own judgment, and simply answer yes or no. But, there is more to your story than that, so don’t be limited to a one-word answer. Start with “Yes, and...” or “Yes, but...” and add context to the answer so that your total health is more accurately described. For example, if you are asked if you can do your own grocery shopping, you can answer “Yes, BUT I have to use a motorized cart, only have the stamina for very short trips, and always take a nap after I get home.”
4. Give examples of your process for an activity and don’t simply report the outcome.
When asked if you can dress yourself, the simple answer may be that yes, eventually you can get yourself dressed in the morning. But the complete answer, the whole truth, (which is what we are looking for!) is that you have difficulty with buttons and zippers, cannot bend down to put your socks on, and cannot lift your arms to pull a sweater over your head. Even if you can accomplish a task eventually or with help, the point of this form is to explain how you have to work around the problem, or how it limits you. “Yes, I can put my socks on by myself, but that is only because I found a gadget that lets me put them on without me bending down.”
5. Be precise and specific.
Don’t give vague answers like “most of the time” or “not always.” Provide the most specific estimates that you can. Describe weight and size in terms of household objects. “I can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk,” or “I can’t lift my arm high enough to turn on the light switch on the wall.” Describe time and distances clearly. “I can sit for 15 minutes before I need to stand up or lie down,” or “Even with my walker, I can’t walk more than 20 feet before I need to rest.”
6. Describe the changes in your life.
Pain, fatigue, or brain fog may now force you to reread things multiple times. Yes, you can understand written material, but it takes you longer. That is a difference that needs to be noted. If anxiety makes it hard to process spoken directions or fatigue makes it difficult to focus for long periods of time, those are both changes in your abilities that you need to make known. This form is your opportunity to explain how your life is now different than it was before.
Bottom Line
The SSA-3373 is not just paperwork. The answers you provide can help—or hurt—your disability claim.
At Disability Advocates, we complete the SSA-3373 with our clients, just as we do the SSA-3369 Work History Report. We help our clients think carefully about what they can do on a normal day and make sure important limitations are not left out.