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Tips for Completing the Adult Function Report (SSA-3373) as Part of Your Social Security Disability Claim

Posted by James Aspell | Apr 29, 2024 | 0 Comments

 

Your Path to Social Security Disability Success Begins Here.

In the realm of Social Security Disability claims, meticulous paperwork is paramount.

While the procedure may differ from other legal matters like workers' compensation or car accident cases, the essence remains the same: your responses to the Social Security Administration's (SSA) inquiries about your work history, medical conditions, and functional capabilities can significantly impact your claim.

This guide delves into one such document integral to the evaluation process – Form SSA 3373 BK, the Adult Disability Function Report.

Upon completion, you'll grasp the significance of Form SSA 3373, key considerations when responding to it, and the repercussions of incomplete submissions on your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application.

Read on for expert advice on tackling the SSA's Adult Disability Function Report.

Unveiling the Adult Function Report

Issued by the Social Security Administration, the Adult Function Report comprises five sections:

  1. General Information
  2. Information About Your Illnesses, Injuries, or Conditions
  3. Information About Daily Activities
  4. Information About Abilities
  5. Remarks

Your answers elucidate how your medical conditions impede your daily functioning and ability to engage in activities of daily living (ADLs).

These insights aid the SSA in assessing your credibility and discerning your capacity for gainful employment, notwithstanding your impairments, symptoms, and limitations.

Subsequently, disability claim examiners utilize factors such as your age, education, work history, and residual functional capacity to adjudicate your disability status under the SSA's Medical-Vocational Guidelines (the Grid Rules).

When Can You Expect to Receive the Adult Function Report?

Following your disability benefits application and authorization for medical record release, the SSA refers your case to Disability Determination Services (DDS).

DDS, in tandem with the SSA and the Department of Social Services, adjudicates disability claims under various programs like SSDI, SSI, and Medicaid, adhering to federal mandates and evidence-based evaluations.

During the initial and reconsideration stages, DDS frequently dispatches the Adult Function Report for completion, typically within a few months post-application.

The completion of subsequent Form SSA 3373 BKs may ensue, contingent upon the progression of your claim and any requests for hearings before an administrative law judge (ALJ).

Who Should Complete the Adult Function Report?

It falls upon you, the disability claimant, to furnish responses to the Adult Function Report.

While the SSA mandates self-completion of the form, soliciting disability letters from treating healthcare providers can fortify your case, offering comprehensive insights into your residual abilities and limitations.

Moreover, enlisting the aid of a trusted individual for assistance with comprehension or transcription is permissible, ensuring that their contributions solely pertain to your responses.

Guidelines for Addressing the Adult Function Report

  1. Document Daily Activities: Maintain a detailed activity log spanning three days preceding the form's completion to furnish accurate responses.

  2. Avoid Exaggeration: Dispelling the misconception of necessitating total disability, emphasize your residual capacities truthfully, adhering to the legal criterion of employability.

  3. Specificity is Key: Provide nuanced descriptions elucidating your limitations to facilitate precise adjudication by the SSA.

  4. Consistency Matters: Harmonize your responses across all claim documentation to bolster credibility and avert adverse findings.

  5. Deliberate Response: Thoroughly peruse each query, deliberating on your responses to furnish comprehensive insights into your functional limitations.

  6. Good vs. Bad Days: Delineate your abilities on both optimal and challenging days, elucidating fluctuations in functional capacity.

Dissecting Form SSA-3373-BK: A Closer Look

From delineating general information to elucidating specific abilities and challenges, each section of the Adult Function Report warrants meticulous attention:

  1. General Information: Furnish accurate personal data, including living arrangements and pertinent household details.

  2. Illnesses, Injuries, or Conditions: Elaborate on the impact of your medical conditions on your work capabilities, supplementing with comprehensive explanations where necessary.

  3. Daily Activities: Chronicle your daily routines and caregiving responsibilities, providing specifics on challenges encountered.

  4. Abilities: Offer detailed insights into your functional limitations across various domains, prioritizing specificity and coherence.

  5. Remarks: Utilize this space to furnish additional information not addressed earlier, ensuring comprehensive coverage of pertinent details.

Post-Submission Proceedings

Following form submission, anticipate a waiting period as the SSA processes your claim, navigating periods of activity and lulls interspersed throughout the adjudication process.

While awaiting a decision, potential eligibility for retroactive benefits may arise upon claim approval, providing financial relief commensurate with the type and date of disability determination.

Seek Expert Guidance

Navigating the complexities of Social Security Disability claims warrants expert guidance.

While apprehensions regarding legal fees may arise, rest assured that our firm operates on a contingency basis, ensuring financial alignment with your success.

Embark on your disability claim journey fortified with comprehensive insights and strategic support, positioning yourself for a favorable outcome.

Contact us today to engage the expertise of seasoned Social Security Disability advocates, mitigating errors and maximizing your claim's potential for success.

 
 
 
 
 
 

About the Author

James Aspell

Principal since August 1, 2006 James F. Aspell is the principal and managing attorney of the firm which he started in 2006 following 20 years of litigation practice in a mid -size firm in Hartford, Connecticut. Jim focuses his practice in the areas of worker's compensation and personal injury l...

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