Last Updated on July 20, 2022 by Deborah L. Hardin
Questions about how to fill out the Function Report from SSA?
You are not alone. We see these forms all the time. Here are some answers.
Questions we hear often:
Hey, you are my lawyer. Can you answer the questions in the function report for me?
Um, no. Every claimant needs to answer these questions in their own words. This is important.
YOU are the only one who knows how you feel, and how symptoms impact your daily life.
I am not a very good writer. Shouldn’t I get some help?
If you can write well enough to send me an email, then you can probably fill out this Function Report form. Do not worry too much about misspellings or grammatical errors.
But my handwriting is terrible. Should I have someone with better handwriting write down what I say?
Poor handwriting is okay if the reader can still understand what you are trying to say. However, if your handwriting is truly illegible, ask a friend with better handwriting to help you. SSA decision makers must be able to read your answers.
General tips for completing the Function Report:
- DO think carefully about your answers. SSA keeps a copy of this Function Report on file, and they will refer to it later in your claim.
- Do NOT exaggerate. Be honest in your answers. Do not try to make your limitations sound worse than they are.
- DO give examples. Giving specific examples of how your symptoms interfere with your daily life can help the reader understand what you are experiencing. (ie: cooking. My back hurts too much for me to stand up and cook, so I only make microwave dinners.)
- DO NOT leave out details. If someone else helps you with housework, laundry, or grocery shopping, be sure to mention this. If you can work on one of these tasks for a few minutes but then must sit and rest, SSA needs to know.
Details and examples help paint a picture of how your symptoms interfere with your activities of daily living.
And Last but not Least…
Does your DOCTOR know how your symptoms interfere with your activities of daily living? Describing these details in your Social Security paperwork isn’t enough. Your medical records MUST support what you have written.
Make sure to report ALL symptoms, limitations, and struggles to your doctors. Not just once – but over and over again. I cannot stress this enough – TELL YOUR DOCTOR.
