How to Complete an Adult Function Report

Shortly after you apply for Social Security disability, you will receive a FUNCTION REPORT - ADULT form in the mail to complete and return.

The Function Report (also called a '"daily activities report"), is 14 pages of questions about you are are able to during a typical day.

Accurately and effectively completing this form is a challenge. And Social Security will use this to decide whether you meet their definition of "disabled." So, it's important. Here are a few recommendations from an Alabama Social Security counselor/advocate:

1. Be truthful and avoid exaggeration. Also, don't minimize or understate things.

2. Print using short direct phrases, not long rambling sentences. This is not a grammar test.

3. Use some specifics if you can. Example: "I can't stand more than about ---- minutes." (Instead of, "I can't stand very long").

4. If you have good days and bad days,address your bad days when describing your activity level. If you were trying to work, you'd have to work on the bad days, too.

5. Remember the purpose of the report: It is to give Social Security a picture of how active you are, how restricted you are in most activities and whether there are some jobs that you can still do.

Since you no longer work, Social Security can't ask about the difficulty have at work. So, they ask about your home life and then use that to make judgments about how you would probably function in a work environment.

6. Finally, let a spouse, family member or close friend assist you with the Function Report. Your wife or husband, for instance, may notice things about you that you either don't pay attention to--or marginalize. Let the other person read your finished report before you submit it. That's always a good way to catch errors, too.

Reports should usually be returned within 10 days after receipt.

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The Forsythe Firm can help you with meeting requirements for Social Security disability. Call us at (256) 799-0297. Free consultation and no fee unless you win.