Social Security analyzes a new claimant's ability to perform certain activities. This helps them to decide whether the claimant is disabled according to their rules. They use a form called "Function Report - Form SSA-3373-BK" or one very much like it. Be careful how you answer the questions on this form. Strive to be accurate but also descriptive. Try to give a real picture of how your pain or other symptoms limit your daily activities--such as shopping, driving, doing housework, socializing, etc.
Here are just a few of the questions on the Function Report, as samples of the type of information being collected from each applicant who files a new claim for benefits:
Do you take care of anyone else such as a wife/husband, children, parents, friend, other? (If you do, and do not show that you have significant problems in doing so, Social Security may judge that you are quite able to perform other activity, like working).
How often do you prepare food or meals? (Answer truthfully but explain, for example, if you only make sandwiches, prepare frozen dinners in the microwave, or have help with cooking. How is your meal preparation more limited now than before you became sick)?
List household chores, both inside and outside, that you are able to do? (It is very important to describe how often you do these chores, how long it takes you, and whether you need to stop and rest as you perform these chores. What are your limits? Why do you struggle with these activities?)
How often do you shop and how long does it take? (Add detail: Do you use a motorized shopping cart? Do you limit how long you can stand on your feet or how far you can walk? Do you need any special help with shopping, like reaching things above shoulder height or below waist level? What about difficulty with bending, loading or unloading groceries?
Describe the kinds of things you do with others? (How often do you socialize, go to church, out to dinner, to the movies, play cards or other social activities. If these things are much less often now than before you became sick, explain that carefully. What problems do you notice when you attempt these activities now)? Can you leave your home alone? Do you need someone to drive you? Is your memory poor?
How well do you get along with authority figures? (Translation: How well would you be able to respond to a supervisor or "boss" in the workplace if you were working now)? They want to know if you have anxiety,anger, depression or panic issues, for example, that would cause you to have trouble responding appropriately to others in a work environment. Do you blow a fuse easily? Become easily agitated? Withdraw,cry or freak out when someone corrects you? This could affect your ability to work.
How well do you handle changes in routine? (Translation: In the workplace, your work assignments or duties might change from time to time. Are you able to adjust to new types of work situations, locations or processes--or do you require work that has a set routine every day with very few changes)? Explain and give examples.
The purpose of the Function Report is to give the Social Security decision maker a glimpse of how active you are, how well you function at home and in public and whether you would be able to function in a some work environments.The better you describe your limitations, the more apt you are to be approved.
Some Very Basic Recommendations as You Complete the Function Report
Here are just a few of the questions on the Function Report, as samples of the type of information being collected from each applicant who files a new claim for benefits:
Do you take care of anyone else such as a wife/husband, children, parents, friend, other? (If you do, and do not show that you have significant problems in doing so, Social Security may judge that you are quite able to perform other activity, like working).
How often do you prepare food or meals? (Answer truthfully but explain, for example, if you only make sandwiches, prepare frozen dinners in the microwave, or have help with cooking. How is your meal preparation more limited now than before you became sick)?
List household chores, both inside and outside, that you are able to do? (It is very important to describe how often you do these chores, how long it takes you, and whether you need to stop and rest as you perform these chores. What are your limits? Why do you struggle with these activities?)
How often do you shop and how long does it take? (Add detail: Do you use a motorized shopping cart? Do you limit how long you can stand on your feet or how far you can walk? Do you need any special help with shopping, like reaching things above shoulder height or below waist level? What about difficulty with bending, loading or unloading groceries?
Describe the kinds of things you do with others? (How often do you socialize, go to church, out to dinner, to the movies, play cards or other social activities. If these things are much less often now than before you became sick, explain that carefully. What problems do you notice when you attempt these activities now)? Can you leave your home alone? Do you need someone to drive you? Is your memory poor?
How well do you get along with authority figures? (Translation: How well would you be able to respond to a supervisor or "boss" in the workplace if you were working now)? They want to know if you have anxiety,anger, depression or panic issues, for example, that would cause you to have trouble responding appropriately to others in a work environment. Do you blow a fuse easily? Become easily agitated? Withdraw,cry or freak out when someone corrects you? This could affect your ability to work.
How well do you handle changes in routine? (Translation: In the workplace, your work assignments or duties might change from time to time. Are you able to adjust to new types of work situations, locations or processes--or do you require work that has a set routine every day with very few changes)? Explain and give examples.
The purpose of the Function Report is to give the Social Security decision maker a glimpse of how active you are, how well you function at home and in public and whether you would be able to function in a some work environments.The better you describe your limitations, the more apt you are to be approved.
Some Very Basic Recommendations as You Complete the Function Report
- Be honest and don't exaggerate.
- Don't minimize; if you have problems in a certain area, say so clearly.
- Don't skip over questions or leave them blank unless they totally do not apply.
- Describe all your limitations that affect your ability to (for example) shop, cook, do housework, drive, or perform other day-to-day activities. If there are no, or very few, limitations to your daily activities, perhaps you should rethink filing a disability claim. If you are able to go about your daily activities with only minimal restrictions, there may be some type of work that you could perform. Think about this: "How do my restrictions on daily activities demonstrate that I would not be able to work at any full time job?" That is the purpose of the Function Report.
Please note that the Function Report is a self-assessment of the ability to function and it is completed by the claimant. It is not the same as a Medical Source Statement completed by the claimant's doctor. The doctor's statement will carry more weight.
ReplyDeleteI see denials regularly that I feel are directly because of improperly prepared Function Reports. Claimants do the Function Report the way I used to do my homework--with as little effort as possible. And the results are about like mine were back then! If you want that Function Report to be convincing you must invest time in it, think about it, ask questions if you don't understand it, and write complete answers. Just scratching something out to say it's been done will only get you a denial. These forms are important, they will be evaluated and they will have a direct bearing on your decision. If you don't think you can (or are not willing to) complete them correctly, please consider letting someone help you. My office does not charge one of our clients that we represent for completing a Function Report, Work History Report or other questionnaire. Of course, we rely on the claimant to provide us with accurate information on these forms.
DeleteI look at a lot of Social Security denials letters brought to me by claimants who applied on their own, got denied, then contacted me. Something I frequently see on the denial letter is: "Insufficient Evidence for a Decision." This usually means Social Security didn't get all the information or medical records that they needed. One of the primary things I do when I file a claim is to get all the medical evidence and be sure all the forms, questionnaires, reports, etc. are tuned in one time. If you need help call me at (256) 799-0297.
ReplyDeleteAppeals represent most of the work in a Social Security disability claim. But it is the most important part of the case. Applications are denied by rather mechanical means by people who never meet you, can't examine you and know little about you. An appeal is more personal and a decision will be made by a judge who spends about an hour talking to you and your representative, getting to understand you and your medical evidence. A lot of people apply, get a denial letter and just give up. This is equivalent to entering a race and sitting down just as the starting gun goes off. Appeals and hearings are where benefits get awarded. Been denied? Appeal today. Get a free case evaluation. If I represent you, I will never ask you for money. Social Security will pay me after you win, after you get your back pay. Call (256) 799-0297.
ReplyDeleteBEWARE: This stuff about "experienced social media users" is not endorsed or recommended by me or my firm. Somebody just posted this on this space, someone we do not know.
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