The biggest and most frequent mistake in applying for SSDI is to be denied on your own words. This is why we ask you to complete the Adult Function Report. We at Mission Possible will assist you when you complete this form. We don’t want you denied on your own words.
The first important question is: How do your illnesses, injuries, conditions limit your ability to work?
What is Social Security looking for? They want to know how your life is impacted by your disabling conditions. Explain what your disabling condition is, how it impacted your ability to work. For example, I recently had a man who could has diabetes with the resulting neuropathy and vision loss. We completed this section stating he used a cane to walk other than in his house. We talked about how he could no longer read his phone or computer without a larger font. We talked about how fatigued he got daily and had to nap every day for over an hour.
Next most important questions: What do you do all day? While SS doesn’t want a detailed account of every movement, this is a good time to add If you nap, if need to take your blood sugar multiple times per day, how long you sit or watch TV or nap, how many doctors’ appointments you have per week, if you need help with your personal hygiene, bathing, and general Activities of Daily Living.
Do you take care of anyone else? Many times people have children or grandchildren in the house. Unless you change diapers or do hands on care for that person, you can say no to this question.
What were you able to do before your illness, injuries or conditions that you can’t do now? List work as the first then move on to other items, such as hiking, dancing, meeting friends, driving etc.
Do the illnesses, injuries, or conditions affect your sleep?
You want to be very clear with this. If you nap because you don’t sleep well at night, how does it affect you. Do you nap? How often? For how long? Do you have insomnia or sleep too much. All of this is important information. If you nap for two hours daily, it would be hard to work with that restriction.
Personal Care: Dress-talk about buttoning, having to sit down to put pants on, fastening bra’s, zipping up clothes or other problems such as not being able to wear tight clothing.
Bathe-do you need a shower chair? Do you need someone to be home for your safety? Can you get in and out of the tub? Can you reach up to wash your hair? All show your abilities to function?
Care for hair, shave are functions that are about your reaching ability or your desire to look good or show your fatigue, or depression
Feed self-Do you cut your meat or vegetables, do you have a special diet, do you need special tools, do you have trouble swallowing or choke on food?
Use the toilet-Can you bend around to wipe yourself? Do you need a hand rail or furniture to get up or down from the toilet? Can you pull up your pants when finished?
This is just the first two pages of the Function Report but Social Security is looking to see if you can take care of yourself and they will look to see if you have the skills to work. Again, you can be denied on your own words. What may seem like a simple answer to a question could cripple your case. Take time to get help. Call us at Mission Possible Employment Services, Inc for assistance.
~ Patty
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