Last updated 2026-07-10
TL;DR
The SSA-3368 Adult Function Report asks what you can and cannot do in daily life. Disability examiners use it to test whether your stated limits match your medical records. The biggest mistake is describing your best day. Answer based on your worst typical day, add specifics like time and frequency, and never leave a section blank.
What is the SSA-3368 function report and why does it matter so much?
The SSA-3368 is officially called the Adult Function Report. SSA mails it to almost every adult who files for SSDI or SSI. It arrives early, right after your initial application, and examiners read it before they ever pick up the phone to call your doctor. [1]
The form matters because it is the only place in your file where you describe your limitations in your own words. Medical records hold diagnoses and test results. The function report holds what those conditions actually stop you from doing day to day. Examiners are trained to line your answers up against your records, your doctor's notes, and everything else in the file. Gaps between the form and your records are one of the most common reasons a case gets flagged for denial.
SSA runs the function report through its five-step sequential evaluation, mainly at steps four and five, where it sets your residual functional capacity (RFC). [2] The RFC is the ceiling on what work you can still do. The function report feeds straight into that number.
The form is four pages and fourteen numbered items. It covers personal care, meals, housework, getting outside, shopping, money, hobbies, social activity, and a detailed section on physical and mental limits. Most people rush it. That mistake can take years to undo.
What does SSA actually look for when it reviews your function report?
Examiners are not hunting for dramatic stories. They are checking two things: whether your answers agree with each other, and whether they agree with your medical record. [3]
Here is what they catch. If you tell your doctor you can walk half a block before pain stops you, then write on the form that you walk to the mailbox daily and shop for groceries once a week, the examiner marks the gap. That alone may not sink you, but it gets weighed. If your treating physician's notes say "mild limitations" and your form describes you as bedridden, they notice that too.
SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) instruction DI 22510.006 spells out how examiners read Activities of Daily Living from these forms. They look at the type, frequency, and duration of activities, how independently you do them, and whether you need help from other people. [4] Every one of those lives inside your answers.
The second thing examiners watch for is the good-day problem. People naturally describe what they can do, not what they cannot. Asked how you spend a day, you might say "I make breakfast and watch TV" and skip that breakfast takes forty-five minutes because pain forces you to sit down twice, and that you spend the rest of the afternoon in bed recovering. That thin picture ends up in your RFC and can cost you the claim.
Pay attention to the how questions. The form asks more than whether you can do something. It asks how long it takes, whether you need help, whether you need reminders, whether you have to stop and rest. Those qualifiers are where your limitations actually live.
How should you describe your daily activities to reflect your real limitations?
Answer based on your worst typical day, not your best one. Not your worst day ever. The kind of day you have more often than not. If you swing between good days and bad days, which most people with chronic conditions do, describe the bad ones and say how often they hit.
For every activity you can do, add the qualifiers. Take a shower. If you shower but you sit on a chair, hold the wall for balance, and lie down for twenty minutes afterward, write all of that. "I can shower but I use a shower chair and need to rest 20 minutes afterward due to pain and fatigue." That one sentence gives the examiner an accurate picture. "Yes, I shower" does not.
Same with cooking, housework, and errands. Go past "I cook simple meals." Say how often, how long it takes, whether you sit down, whether you use the microwave because standing at the stove is impossible. Small details stack up.
Before you touch the form, keep a plain log for two or three days. Write down what you tried to do, how long it took, whether you had to stop, and how you felt after. The log makes the report far easier to fill out accurately, and it gives you something to point to if SSA calls with follow-up questions.
Section E covers lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and handling. Give your real limits. If you can stand for ten minutes before pain forces you to sit, write ten minutes. Do not write an hour because it sounds less severe. The form asks for your limits, and an inflated number raises your RFC against you.
What are the most common mistakes people make on the function report?
The most common mistake is understating your limits to seem believable. Applicants worry their claim will look fake if the answers sound too severe, so they soften everything. It backfires. You are applying because your limits are severe. Describe them.
Second: leaving fields blank. Every empty field is a question the examiner answers for you, usually not in your favor. Skip the concentration section and they may assume your focus is fine. Fill in every field. If something truly does not apply, say so in a line rather than leaving white space.
Third: contradicting yourself between sections. People write that they cannot leave the house alone, then describe shopping for groceries alone three pages later. Read the whole form before you submit. Your answers have to tell one story.
Fourth: skipping medications and their side effects. SSA's regulations at 20 CFR 404.1529 require examiners to consider medication side effects when weighing how symptoms limit your ability to work. [5] If your pain medication makes you drowsy or foggy or nauseous, write it where SSA asks. Brain fog from medication can limit you as much as the condition underneath.
Fifth: covering only the physical when mental or cognitive issues are part of the claim. The form has a full section on understanding, memory, concentration, and social functioning. If depression slows you down, if anxiety keeps you inside, if pain fog wrecks your ability to follow instructions, document it. Examiners use these answers to build the Psychiatric Review Technique and the Mental RFC, even when your main diagnosis is physical.
How do you handle the section on social activities and getting along with others?
Section G asks how you get along with family, friends, neighbors, and authority figures. It also asks whether you have trouble getting along with people and whether you have ever been fired over it. This section carries the most weight for mental health claims, but it applies to everyone.
Answer honestly. If chronic pain has made you irritable and withdrawn, say so. If anxiety makes being around people hard, describe it. If mood or pain caused conflicts at past jobs, disclose it here and in your work history. Trying to look socially fine when you are not will undercut a claim built on depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or anxiety.
For physical conditions, tie the social limit to the physical cause. If you cannot sit through events, cannot drive, or need a bathroom close by, spell out why. "I do not go to family gatherings because I cannot sit in chairs for more than 20 minutes" is specific, credible, and physical. It beats a vague "I stay home a lot."
Do not manufacture conflict or hostility to look more disabled. Examiners read these answers all day and can spot the ones that sound coached. Your answers should match what your doctors and therapists have already documented.
What should you write in the remarks section at the end of the form?
Section 16, the Remarks section, is the most wasted part of the form. Most people leave it empty. That is money left on the table.
Use it for anything the checkboxes and short blanks could not hold. If your condition swings hard day to day, explain that. If you have multiple conditions that feed each other, describe the combination. If a question confused you and you want to clarify an answer, do it here.
Good examples: "I have both fibromyalgia and depression. On my worst days, about 15 days per month, I cannot be out of bed for more than 2 hours total. My answers above reflect those bad days." Or: "I noted I can walk 1 block, but only with my cane and only if I rest for 30 minutes afterward."
Keep the tone flat and factual. You are not writing a plea. You are adding facts the form's layout could not fit. Two to four sentences of specific detail beats a long emotional paragraph every time.
How does the function report affect your residual functional capacity (RFC)?
Your RFC is the most important call SSA makes in your case. It sets the maximum level of work you can still do despite your impairments. Every work-related limit you document on the function report can feed straight into it. [2]
For physical claims, the RFC exertion levels are sedentary (mostly sitting, lifting up to 10 pounds), light (standing or walking most of the day, lifting up to 20 pounds), medium, heavy, and very heavy. [6] If the examiner lands you at sedentary and you are over 50 without transferable skills, you may qualify for benefits even if you could still do some work, under the Medical-Vocational Guidelines (the Grid Rules).
For mental claims, the RFC captures limits in four areas: understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction, and adaptation. Your answers in Sections C through I map almost directly onto those four.
Here is the practical part. Every specific limit you describe shaves something off what SSA thinks you can do at work. "I cannot stand more than 10 minutes" can move you from a light RFC to a sedentary one. "I cannot follow complex instructions because of pain fog" can add a restriction on detailed instructions to your mental RFC. Those distinctions are often the whole difference between approval and denial.
For how disability benefits are structured and what the RFC means for your case, start with SSA's own guidance.
Does SSA compare your function report to the third-party function report?
Yes. SSA usually sends a separate form, the SSA-3380 Function Report Adult Third Party, to someone who knows you well, like a spouse, parent, or close friend. Examiners compare the two directly. [7]
If your third-party reporter says you spend most of the day in bed and need help with meals, and your form says the same, that agreement strengthens your credibility. If the third party says you do yard work on weekends and you claimed you cannot walk a block, the examiner catches it.
Before your contact fills out their copy, talk to them. Not to line up matching answers. To make sure they understand the point is to describe your bad typical days, not your best hour. If they have mostly seen you on good days, remind them of the bad ones. Their honest memory of your limits is real evidence.
Choose that person with care. Pick someone who sees you often, has watched your limitations up close, and can write clearly and specifically. A caregiver who helps you every day beats a neighbor who waves from the driveway.
Can you go back and correct the function report after you submit it?
You cannot rewrite the submitted form, but you can add documentation at any time. If you realize your answers were incomplete or misleading, write a letter to your field office or to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office handling your case and clarify. Put your Social Security number and claim number on it. Keep a copy.
Here is the bigger point. The function report is one piece of evidence, not the whole case. If your medical records, your treating doctor's opinions, and your work history all back your claim, an imperfect function report may not sink you. But cleaning up a bad report with a correction letter is harder than getting it right the first time.
If your case is denied and you move into appeals, you will usually fill out another function report. Both the Reconsideration stage and the ALJ hearing stage tend to bring a fresh one. Apply everything in this article to the new form. Judges also look at whether your function reports stay consistent over time.
To organize your documentation and build a summary of your claim before you submit, a tool like DisabilityFiled can walk you through the key questions and flag gaps before anything reaches SSA.
What's the difference between answering for a physical condition versus a mental health condition?
The form is the same for everyone. Where you spend your detail should follow your impairments.
For mostly physical conditions (back pain, heart disease, COPD, arthritis), Section E is your key section. That is where you describe your capacity to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, and use your hands. Put numbers on it. "I can sit for 20 minutes at a time before I have to change position" beats "I have trouble sitting."
For mostly mental health conditions (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety), Sections C, D, and F carry the load. Section C covers daily activities and how your condition hits them. Section F covers attention, concentration, following instructions, and getting along with others. SSA's Blue Book criteria for mental disorders, Listing 12.00, line up almost exactly with these functional areas: understanding and applying information, interacting with others, concentrating and keeping pace, and adapting or managing yourself. [8]
For mixed claims, which describes most applicants, cover both throughout. Pain wrecks concentration. Depression worsens how pain feels. Anxiety cuts your mobility. Those interactions are real and documentable, and skipping them leaves evidence on the table.
SSA is bringing more medical reviews in-house, which makes agreement between your function report and your medical record matter more than ever.
Should you get help filling out the function report, and from whom?
Yes, get help. The SSA-3368 is not a test of your independence. Getting assistance is allowed and common.
The best helper knows your limits well and asks the right follow-up questions: a disability attorney, a non-attorney representative, or a trusted advocate. A disability attorney who works on contingency costs you nothing upfront (SSA caps the fee at 25% of back pay, up to $7,200 under the fee cap effective November 2022) and can check your answers for consistency and completeness before you submit. [9] If you are at the ALJ hearing stage, get an attorney before the hearing. You can find local representatives through social security disability attorneys.
A family member or caregiver can help too, as long as the answers are yours. If someone else writes the answers because you physically cannot, note that at the end of the form. SSA understands that some applicants cannot complete forms on their own.
Skip this: copying answers from online examples or trying to match what you think SSA wants to hear. Examiners read thousands of these. Coached or template-style answers stand out. Your answers should belong to your life and your body, nobody else's.
For a structured way to gather your information before you send anything to SSA, the apply for social security disability guidance covers what supporting evidence to collect alongside the function report.
Common function report questions answered: what specific words should you use?
Here is a side-by-side of weak versus strong answers for the same limitations.
| Question | Weak Answer | Strong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| How far can you walk? | Not very far | About half a block before leg pain and shortness of breath force me to stop and rest for 10 minutes |
| Can you follow written instructions? | It's hard | I lose my place often and have to re-read paragraphs 2-3 times because chronic pain wrecks my concentration |
| How do you spend a typical day? | Watch TV, rest | I wake around 9 am after poor sleep, take medication, rest in bed 2-3 hours from fatigue, watch TV from the recliner, eat a microwave meal, and go back to bed by 7 pm. I need help bathing 3 days a week. |
| Do you need reminders? | Sometimes | Yes, I set phone alarms for every medication and appointment because I forget otherwise |
| Why can't you do the work you used to do? | My back hurts too much | Constant lower back pain rated 7/10 keeps me from sitting more than 15 minutes at a time; my old job required sitting at a computer 6-8 hours a day |
Every row runs the same pattern: add time, add frequency, name what causes the limit, and say what you do to work around it. Specific numbers almost always read as more credible than vague phrases.
One more thing worth knowing. SSA's Office of the Inspector General has documented that mismatches between self-reported function and the medical record show up as a basis for denial recommendations. [10] Accuracy protects you. This is not about sounding more disabled. It is about making the record match reality.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to fill out the SSA-3368 function report?
Most applicants spend 45 minutes to two hours, depending on how many conditions they have and how detailed they get. Rushing is a common mistake. Spend real time on Sections E and F, which cover physical and mental limits. Keep a two-day log of your actual daily activities before you start. The form runs four pages and 14 numbered items.
What happens if I say I can do more than I actually can on the function report?
Overstating your ability is one of the most common ways applicants hurt their own case. If you describe activities you can technically do without explaining the pain, rest breaks, or help involved, SSA may assign you a higher functional capacity than you have. That can mean a denial or an RFC that overstates what you can do at work. Always pair any activity with its limits.
Does SSA verify the answers I give on the function report?
SSA compares your answers against your medical records, the third-party function report, and everything else in your file. Examiners sometimes contact your doctors for clarification. They do not run surveillance routinely at the initial stage, but answers that conflict with your medical records get flagged. Agreement between your form and your records is the single biggest factor in how your answers are read.
Can I fill out the SSA-3368 online or does it have to be on paper?
SSA offers the Adult Function Report as part of its online disability application at SSA.gov, and you can also complete it on paper and mail it or bring it to your local field office. If you go the paper route, make a copy before you send it. You will want your own record of what you submitted, especially if SSA asks follow-up questions or your case goes to appeal.
What is the difference between the SSA-3368 and the SSA-3369?
The SSA-3368 is the Adult Function Report, covering what you can and cannot do in daily life. The SSA-3369 is the Work History Report, covering your past jobs, duties, and how demanding they were physically and mentally. Both usually go out after you apply. SSA uses both to evaluate the claim, but they do different jobs. Fill out both with the same level of detail.
Should I describe my worst day or my average day on the function report?
Describe your worst typical day, meaning the kind of day you have regularly, not your worst day ever. If good days and bad days vary, say so on the form and give how often bad days happen. Answering from a good day hands SSA an inaccurate picture of your capacity. SSA regulations require evaluating how your condition affects you over time, not on occasional good days.
Does leaving sections blank on the function report hurt my case?
Yes. Every blank gets interpreted by the examiner, often in the way least helpful to your claim. Skip a question about concentration and they may assume that function is intact. Fill in every section. If something genuinely does not apply, write a short line explaining why rather than leaving it empty. The Remarks section at the end is a good place to clarify anything the layout could not fit.
Can medication side effects be included on the function report?
Yes, and they should be. Section 12 asks about medications, dosages, and side effects. SSA regulations at 20 CFR 404.1529 require consideration of medication side effects when assessing how symptoms limit your ability to work. Common limiting ones include drowsiness, cognitive fog, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. If your medication causes any of these, describe the effect and how long it lasts after each dose.
What if I have multiple disabilities? How do I cover all of them on one form?
Address all your conditions throughout the form, more than the primary one. For each limit you describe, name the condition behind it when more than one applies. Use the Remarks section to explain how conditions interact or compound. SSA is required to consider the combined effect of all impairments under 20 CFR 404.1523. Describing one condition and ignoring the rest can produce an RFC that underestimates your total limitations.
How does the function report affect my case at an ALJ hearing?
At a hearing, judges review every function report filed during the claim. They check consistency over time and compare your self-reported limits to your medical record and any expert testimony. A well-completed report gives your attorney something concrete to build on. A vague or inconsistent one can be used to attack your credibility. If your case reaches a hearing, review all prior function reports with your attorney before you testify.
Who should I pick to fill out the third-party function report?
Choose someone who sees you regularly and has watched your limitations firsthand, like a spouse, adult child, caregiver, or close friend. Avoid people who only catch you on good days or in public where you mask symptoms. Brief them first: the goal is an honest account of your worst typical days, not your best performance. Their version should agree with yours without being a copy of it.
Is the function report used differently for SSI than for SSDI?
The functional analysis is identical for both programs. SSA uses the SSA-3368 to evaluate functional capacity for SSDI and SSI alike. The difference between the programs is work history and income, not how function gets evaluated. Your RFC, which the function report feeds, sets medical eligibility under the same five-step process no matter which program you apply for.
What if I have a good day on the day I fill out the function report?
Do not answer based on how you feel that day. Pull out your activity log if you kept one, or take a few minutes to think through a typical bad week before you write. The form asks how you function generally, not how you feel this afternoon. If good and bad days vary a lot, say so plainly and give the frequency of each. That context is what makes the RFC accurate.
Sources
- SSA, Adult Function Report (Form SSA-3368-BK): The SSA-3368 is the Adult Function Report sent to adult SSDI and SSI applicants to document daily activity limitations.
- SSA, Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (Blue Book), General Information: SSA uses a five-step sequential evaluation process, and residual functional capacity is determined at steps 4 and 5 of that process.
- SSA POMS DI 24510.006, Evaluating Symptoms and Signs: Examiners are trained to evaluate consistency between self-reported limitations and medical evidence in the file.
- SSA POMS DI 22510.006, Function Reports Adult: POMS DI 22510.006 describes how examiners evaluate ADL information from function reports, including type, frequency, and duration of activities, degree of independence, and whether help is needed.
- Code of Federal Regulations, 20 CFR 404.1529, How we evaluate symptoms, including pain: 20 CFR 404.1529 requires SSA to consider the side effects of medications when evaluating how symptoms affect the ability to work.
- SSA, Disability Benefits, How You Qualify: Sedentary work involves mostly sitting and lifting no more than 10 pounds; light work involves standing or walking most of the day and lifting up to 20 pounds.
- SSA, Function Report Adult Third Party (Form SSA-3380-BK): SSA sends a separate third-party function report (SSA-3380) to someone who knows the applicant, and examiners compare both forms directly.
- SSA Blue Book Listing 12.00, Mental Disorders: The Blue Book Listing 12.00 for mental disorders evaluates limitations in understanding and applying information, interacting with others, concentrating and maintaining pace, and adapting or managing oneself.
- SSA, Publication No. 05-10075, Your Right to Representation: SSA caps attorney fees for disability representation at 25% of past-due benefits, with a maximum of $7,200 under the fee cap effective November 2022.
- SSA Office of the Inspector General: SSA OIG audits document that inconsistencies between self-reported function reports and medical records appear as a basis for denial recommendations.
- Code of Federal Regulations, 20 CFR 404.1523, Multiple Impairments: 20 CFR 404.1523 requires SSA to consider the combined effect of all impairments, not just the primary diagnosis.