SSA-3373 Function Report 2026: How to Fill It Out and Avoid the Mistakes That Kill SSDI Claims

By Anthony Albert, Benefits Research Director - Updated May 3, 2026

About four to six weeks after you file an SSDI or SSI application, a packet shows up in the mail with a 10-page form called the Function Report. The form's official name is SSA-3373-BK, and it asks you to describe your daily life from the time you wake up until you go to bed. How you fill out this form often decides your case.

That's not a polite exaggeration. Disability examiners read the Function Report alongside your medical records, and the way you describe your activities either lines up with what your doctors are saying or contradicts it. When the form contradicts the records, examiners deny. When the form matches the records and shows specific functional limitations, examiners look harder for a way to approve.

The form is also the version of your story that gets used at every stage. Reconsideration examiners read it. Administrative Law Judges read it before your hearing. Vocational experts cite it. Anything you wrote a year ago can come back at you when an ALJ asks why your description today is different from what you originally said.

Here's how to fill out SSA-3373 the right way in 2026: which questions matter most, what kinds of answers win, what kinds of answers kill cases, and how to handle the parts that feel uncomfortable.

What the Form Is and Why It Matters

SSA-3373 is the Adult Function Report. The current version is dated 02-2024. Disability Determination Services (DDS), which is the state agency that makes the medical decision on your SSDI or SSI claim, sends it out shortly after the field office forwards your claim. You get 10 days to return it. Don't blow that deadline. Late forms get treated as failure to cooperate, which can cause a denial without any medical review.

The form has four sections, A through D, and the questions cover your basic info, your conditions, your daily activities, and your specific physical and mental abilities. The questions are deliberately overlapping. Examiners cross-check answers across sections to spot inconsistencies. If you say you can lift 30 pounds in Section D and then describe carrying a 50-pound dog food bag in Section C, the examiner notices.

The form is part of a bigger picture. DDS examiners also read your medical records, your Work History Report (SSA-3369), and any third-party Function Report (SSA-3380) submitted by a friend or family member. They build a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) profile that captures what you can still do despite your impairments. The Function Report fills in the parts of the RFC that medical records can't, like how often you can sustain attention or how much help you need with personal care.

Two Rules to Hold in Your Head Before You Start

Before you write anything, get these two rules into your head:

Describe your worst or average days, not your best days. SSA cares about whether you can sustain a 40-hour work week, week after week. If you have one good day a week and six bad days, the bad days decide the case. People naturally describe themselves at their best because that's how social conversation works. The Function Report is the wrong place for that habit. Describe your typical day or your worst day, not the one good day.

Don't volunteer information that isn't asked. Answer the question that's in front of you. Don't fill in extra context that paints you as more capable than you are. If a question asks how often you go shopping, the answer is "twice a month, my husband drives me, and I sit on a bench while he gets the items." It's not a paragraph about how you used to love grocery shopping at the farmer's market and now miss it. The first version answers the question. The second version reads like you have more functional capacity than the first.

Section A: General Information

Section A is administrative. Name, Social Security number, daytime phone number. The only line worth pausing on is question 4, your living arrangement. The form asks if you live alone, with family, in a nursing home, in a group home, etc. Be honest. If you say you live alone, the examiner will assume you handle all your own cooking, cleaning, shopping, and self-care. If someone helps you, say so.

Section B: Information About Your Conditions

Section B has one question (question 5): how do your illnesses, injuries, or conditions limit your ability to work?

This is the most important question on the form. Spend real time on it.

The wrong way to answer: "I have back pain and I can't work." That tells DDS nothing useful and gets a denial.

The right way to answer: list every condition by name (use diagnosis terms, not lay terms when you can), list how each one limits specific work-related activities, and list medication side effects that limit your ability to function on a job.

Example: "Lumbar disc herniation L4-L5 with radiculopathy down the right leg. I can't sit longer than 20 minutes without sharp pain that makes me have to stand. I can't stand longer than 15 minutes without leg numbness that makes me have to sit. I can't lift more than 10 pounds without pain that lasts the rest of the day. Major depressive disorder. I have crying episodes 3 to 4 times a week that last 30 to 60 minutes during which I can't focus on tasks. Side effects from gabapentin make me drowsy in the afternoon. I have to nap from 1 to 3 every day."

Notice what that example does. It names the conditions, ties each one to a specific work-related limitation (sitting, standing, lifting, focus, attendance), and includes medication side effects with concrete numbers. Examiners can map that answer directly to the RFC categories they're filling in: sitting tolerance, standing tolerance, lifting, attention, attendance.

Section C: Daily Activities

Section C is the long section, questions 6 through 19. Most cases are won or lost here. It asks about your typical day, caretaking, sleep, personal care, meals, household chores, transportation, shopping, hobbies, and social activities.

Question 6: Describe what you do from the time you wake up until going to bed

This is the question that scares everyone. Most people freeze and write something generic like "I wake up, eat breakfast, watch TV, eat lunch, watch TV, eat dinner, go to bed." That kind of answer makes you look minimally capable but doesn't show why you can't work.

The trick is to write the day with all the breaks, naps, help, and limitations included. Examiners are looking for patterns that don't fit a 40-hour work week. So highlight those patterns.

Example: "I wake up around 9 because pain makes me sleep poorly until early morning. I lie in bed for 20 minutes before I can stand up. My wife brings me coffee and toast because I can't stand at the counter long enough to make breakfast. I sit in the recliner from 9:30 to 11. I take morning medications around 10. I lie down again from 11 to 1 because of side effects. My wife brings me a sandwich at noon. I take a 2-hour nap from 1 to 3. I sit and watch TV from 3 to 5. I eat dinner at the table for about 20 minutes, then move back to the recliner. I usually go to bed at 9 but wake up 4 to 6 times a night from pain."

That answer paints a picture of someone who can't sustain even sedentary work because they need to lie down 4 to 6 hours a day, sleep poorly at night, and need physical assistance with breakfast and meals. Compare it to "I wake up, eat breakfast, watch TV." Both describe the same day, but only one helps the case.

One useful tactic: answer this question last. Get through the rest of the form first, then come back to question 6 with the details fresh in your head.

Questions 7-9: Caring for others

The form asks if you care for a spouse, children, parents, friends, or pets. The honest answer is the right one. If you take care of a child, say so. But describe how the disability affects that caretaking and whether anyone helps you.

Examples that work: "I sit with my 6-year-old after school for two hours, but my husband does all the bathing, dressing, and cooking for her. I can't pick her up because of my back. I haven't taken her to the park in a year." or "I have a small dog who lives in the house. My daughter walks her three times a day because I can't. I can put food and water in the bowl from a sitting position."

What to avoid: making yourself sound like a primary caregiver who handles everything single-handedly. That kind of answer suggests you have the stamina and physical capacity to work.

Question 10: What were you able to do before that you can't do now?

Tie this to work whenever you can, then add personal-life examples that show specific functional limitations.

Examples: "I used to work in retail stocking shelves. I can't lift more than 10 pounds now and can't bend at the waist without pain shooting down my leg. I used to play in a softball league. I can't run, throw, or swing a bat anymore. I used to drive an hour to my parents' house. Now I can't drive more than 15 minutes without my hands going numb."

Question 11: Sleep

Be specific about how the disability affects sleep. Examples that work: "Pain wakes me up 4 to 6 times a night. Total sleep is usually 4 to 5 hours, broken up." or "Anxiety attacks at night make me unable to fall asleep until 3 or 4 AM. I sleep until 11. The disrupted schedule keeps me tired all day."

Don't include sleep problems unrelated to your disability. If you don't sleep well because you're worried about money, that's not relevant here.

Question 12: Personal care

This is the question most people don't answer honestly because it's embarrassing. Get over the embarrassment. Personal care limitations win cases.

For each personal care item (dress, bathe, hair, shave, feed self, toilet), describe what's hard or what you can't do without help.

Examples: "Dressing: my husband helps me put on socks and shoes because I can't bend over. Pants take me 10 minutes because I have to sit. Bathing: I sit in a shower chair. I can't stand long enough to shower. My daughter washes my hair because I can't lift my arms above shoulder level for more than 30 seconds. Care for hair: limited to a ponytail. I can't brush out tangles because of shoulder pain. Shaving: I haven't shaved in months because my hands shake too much. Feed self: I drop utensils when my hand cramps. Toilet: no problem with the toilet itself but I need a grab bar to stand back up."

If you have no problem with personal care, check the box. But most disabled applicants do have at least some personal care limitations. Slow them down enough to think about it.

Question 13: Meals

Be specific about what you can prepare, how often, and how long it takes.

Examples: "I make sandwiches and microwave frozen dinners. I don't cook on the stove anymore because I can't stand long enough. Meals take me 20 to 30 minutes because I have to sit between steps. I used to cook dinner for the family every night. Now my husband does it."

What kills cases: saying "I cook normal meals" when your medical records show severe physical limitations. The contradiction reads as exaggeration of either your abilities or your impairments. Examiners go with the worse interpretation.

Question 14: House and yard work

List what you can do, but include how long it takes, how often, and whether you need help. Don't list things you used to do but stopped.

Examples: "I can fold laundry while sitting. I can't carry the basket to the bedroom so my husband does that. I can wipe the counter for 5 minutes before my back makes me sit down. I can't vacuum, mop, mow, do dishes standing at the sink, or do anything that requires bending. My husband does all of those. I used to do all the housework. Now my contribution is sitting and folding laundry."

Questions 15-16: Going outside, transportation, shopping

How often you leave the house, how you travel, whether you can drive, whether you need someone with you, how shopping gets done, and how often. Be specific.

Examples that win: "I leave the house 3 to 4 times a week, mostly for medical appointments. My husband drives. I can't drive more than 15 minutes without my hands going numb. I shop online for groceries. When I have to go in person, my husband drives me, I use a motorized cart, and I can stay for about 20 minutes before pain makes me have to leave."

What to watch out for: don't say you "do your own shopping" if you actually rely on someone driving you, an electric cart, or a quick 10-minute trip. Describe what actually happens, not the high-level summary.

Question 17: Money handling

Asks if you can pay bills, count change, handle a savings account, use a checkbook. If you have cognitive limitations affecting money, describe them. If you have no cognitive issues here, say "I handle my own bills" and move on.

Question 18: Hobbies

This question often hurts cases. Most people list every hobby they enjoy without realizing the examiner reads it as proof they're more functional than the rest of the form suggests.

Right way: list hobbies you can still do, with the limitations included. List the hobbies you've had to give up.

Examples: "I read for 15 minutes at a time before pain or focus issues stop me. I watch TV from a recliner. I used to garden, golf, hike, and refinish furniture. I can't do any of those anymore."

What kills cases: "I love woodworking, gardening, hiking, and motorcycle riding." That answer just told DDS you have the physical and mental capacity for sustained activity.

Question 19: Social activities

How often you spend time with others, what you do, whether you go to church or club meetings, whether you need someone to come with you. The first checkbox is for in-person time with others not living with you, so don't count your own household.

Be careful not to describe more social activity than is consistent with your impairments. If you said in question 5 that you have severe anxiety in public places, don't say in question 19 that you go to a weekly church social and a monthly book club.

Section D: Specific Abilities

Section D, question 20, is a checklist of activities your conditions affect: lifting, squatting, bending, standing, reaching, walking, sitting, kneeling, talking, hearing, stair climbing, seeing, memory, completing tasks, concentration, understanding, following instructions, using hands, getting along with others.

For each box you check, the form asks for an explanation. Don't skip these. The explanations turn into RFC findings.

Examples that work:

• "Lifting: 10 pounds maximum without pain. Above 10 pounds I have radiating pain for the rest of the day."
• "Standing: 15 minutes maximum before I have to sit because of leg numbness."
• "Sitting: 20 minutes maximum before I have to stand because of back pain."
• "Walking: half a city block before I have to stop and rest 5 minutes. I use a cane for distances over 50 feet."
• "Stair climbing: I can do 6 stairs holding the rail. I can't climb a full flight without resting."
• "Memory: I forget appointments daily. My phone reminders fail because I forget to look at the phone. My wife handles every appointment."
• "Concentration: I can pay attention to a TV show for 10 minutes before I lose track of the plot."
• "Following instructions: I do better with written instructions because I forget spoken ones in a few minutes."
• "Getting along with others: I avoid family events because I get irritable from pain and anxiety. I had two arguments with my brother in the last month over nothing."

The form also asks how far you can walk before resting, how long you can pay attention, how well you finish what you start, and how well you handle stress and changes in routine. Answer with concrete time and distance numbers when you can.

The Remarks Section

Page 10 has a Remarks section where you can add anything that didn't fit in the spaces above. Use it. If question 6 didn't have enough space for your full daily routine, finish it in Remarks. If your answers depend on whether it's a good day or a bad day, write that in Remarks. If your answers are time-of-day dependent (mornings are worst, evenings are tolerable), write that in Remarks.

Reference the question number you're elaborating on. "Re question 6: I should add that on bad days, which happen 3 to 4 times a week, I don't get out of bed at all. My wife brings me food and I take medication for pain. I sleep most of the day."

Common Mistakes That Kill Cases

Vague answers. "Sometimes," "occasionally," "depending on the day" all read as evasive or as proof that limitations are minor. Use specific frequencies and durations.

Best-day answers. Painting yourself at your peak makes the form contradict the medical records, which describe you closer to your baseline.

Inconsistencies between questions. Saying you can't stand for more than 10 minutes in question 20 and then saying you cook dinner standing at the stove in question 13. DDS examiners read every line. Cross-check your own answers.

Copying internet sample answers. Examiners read thousands of these forms. Generic copy-pasted language stands out and reads as fake. Use your own words.

Treating the form like a chore to get through. Set aside two or three hours. Take breaks. Come back to question 6 last.

Missing the deadline. The 10-day deadline is real. Late returns trigger failure-to-cooperate denials.

Not using the Remarks section. Most people leave page 10 blank. That's wasted real estate.

Not having a third-party form filed. SSA-3380 is the third-party version. A spouse, parent, adult child, or close friend can file it. Their answers should describe what they observe, not what you tell them. Their version reinforces yours when both line up. Their version contradicts yours when they don't, which kills cases. Pick someone who really sees you day-to-day.

Not coordinating with your medical records. Function reports work best when they describe limitations your doctors are also documenting. If your treating doctor's notes say you can lift 25 pounds and your form says you can lift 10 pounds, the examiner has to pick one. The doctor's note usually wins. Talk to your doctor about your function in detail at your next visit and make sure those descriptions get into the chart.

Coordinating With Other Forms

The Function Report doesn't stand alone. It works alongside:

Disability Report (SSA-3368). The initial report you filled out when you applied. It lists conditions, doctors, and work history. The Function Report should be consistent with the conditions you reported on SSA-3368.

Work History Report (SSA-3369). Describes your past 15 years of jobs with specific physical and mental demands. The Function Report should describe your current limitations against the demands of those past jobs.

Third-Party Function Report (SSA-3380). Same questions as SSA-3373 but completed by someone who knows you well. Have a spouse, adult child, or close friend fill it out. Their answers should match yours.

Medical Source Statement. If your treating doctor fills out a Medical Source Statement (HA-1152 for the hearing stage, but you can ask for one earlier), the doctor's functional limitations should match your Function Report descriptions. When they line up, examiners give the file more weight.

Our Adult Mental Disorder Listings 2026 article covers the medical evidence side for mental health cases, where the Function Report is especially important because mental limitations are harder to capture in medical records.

Reconsideration and Hearing Reuse

If your initial claim is denied, you'll often get a new Function Report at the reconsideration stage. The new form gets compared to the original. Big swings in your answers raise flags. Small worsening over a few months looks normal. Dramatic differences look like the form was filled out without reading the first one.

Before filling out the recon Function Report, request a copy of your original from SSA. Read it before answering. Adjust answers only if your conditions actually changed. Otherwise keep them consistent.

At the hearing stage, ALJs read every Function Report in the file. If you say something at the hearing that contradicts an answer from a year ago, the ALJ will ask why. Have an answer ready or stick to what you said before.

State VR and Local Help

If you have a representative payee, family member, or attorney helping with your claim, run the Function Report by them before sending. State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and federally funded Protection and Advocacy organizations sometimes help applicants fill out these forms.

Many State VR agencies in California, New York, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and other large states have benefits counselors who help with disability claim forms at no charge.

If you've already retained an SSDI attorney or non-attorney representative, the Function Report is one of the things they should review with you before submission. Most disability attorneys work on contingency, capped at 25 percent of back pay or $9,200 in 2026, whichever is less. Their input on the form often makes the difference between approval and denial.

Putting It Together

The Function Report decides cases more often than people realize. Medical records show what's wrong with you. The Function Report shows what that means for daily life. DDS examiners and ALJs look for the bridge between the two, and the bridge is what you write on those 10 pages.

Set aside the time. Answer your worst or average days. Be specific about minutes, distances, pounds, and frequencies. Don't volunteer extra information. Don't copy internet samples. Cross-check your own answers between sections. Use the Remarks page. Have a third party file SSA-3380. Talk to your doctor about your functional limitations at your next visit so the medical records match.

If you do those things, the Function Report becomes a tool that supports your claim instead of one that quietly kills it.

FAQ

What is Form SSA-3373?

SSA-3373 is the Adult Function Report. It's a 10-page form that asks how your medical conditions affect your daily activities and ability to work. Disability Determination Services (DDS) sends it out a few weeks after you file an SSDI or SSI application. You have 10 days to return it. The form covers your typical day, personal care, household chores, transportation, hobbies, social activities, and specific physical and mental abilities.

How important is the Function Report to my disability claim?

It's one of the most important non-medical documents in the file. DDS examiners and Administrative Law Judges read it alongside your medical records to decide whether your impairments prevent you from working. The form shows the day-to-day functional impact that medical records often don't capture, especially for mental health and chronic pain cases. A poorly filled-out Function Report can sink an otherwise winnable case.

Should I describe my best days, worst days, or average days?

Describe your worst or average days, not your best days. SSA cares about whether you can sustain a 40-hour work week. If you have one good day a week and six bad days, the bad days decide the case. People naturally describe themselves at their best in social conversation. The Function Report is the wrong place for that habit. Be honest about your typical day, including limitations, breaks, naps, and help from others.

What's the biggest mistake people make on the Function Report?

Vague or generic answers. Saying "sometimes I have trouble walking" tells DDS nothing useful. Saying "I can walk half a city block before I have to stop and rest 5 minutes, and I use a cane for distances over 50 feet" gives the examiner concrete numbers to map into the Residual Functional Capacity assessment. Specific time, distance, and frequency numbers win cases. Vague descriptions get denied.

Do I need to fill out the Third-Party Function Report (SSA-3380) too?

You don't fill it out yourself, but you should ask a spouse, adult child, parent, or close friend to fill it out. The third-party report has the same questions but answered by someone who observes your daily life. When their answers match yours, examiners give the file more weight. When they contradict, examiners go with the more capable version. Pick someone who truly sees you day-to-day, not someone who only knows what you've told them.

What happens if I don't return the Function Report in 10 days?

SSA can deny your claim for failure to cooperate. That denial doesn't even reach the medical evaluation stage. If you need more time, call DDS at the phone number on the cover letter and ask for an extension before the deadline passes. Most examiners grant a short extension if you ask. If you've already missed the deadline, return the form anyway with a brief note explaining the delay, and call DDS to confirm the file is still open.

Can I get help filling out the Function Report?

Yes. State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies, Protection and Advocacy organizations, Centers for Independent Living, and Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs often help with disability paperwork at no charge. If you've retained an SSDI attorney or non-attorney representative, they should review the form before submission. Most disability attorneys work on contingency capped at 25 percent of back pay or $9,200 in 2026, whichever is less.