Understanding SSDI and Why Forms Matter
Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people with disabilities who have worked and paid Social Security taxes. The program exists because workers contribute to Social Security throughout their careers, building up a record of earnings. When a severe medical condition prevents someone from working, SSDI may provide financial support.
Get Your Free Mayo Clinic Contact Information Guide →
The SSDI program involves multiple forms because the Social Security Administration (SSA) needs specific medical, work history, and personal information to review each case. Each form serves a different purpose—some gather basic facts about your condition, others document your medical treatment history, and still others provide details about your work background. Understanding what each form does helps you prepare accurate information.
SSDI differs from other programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which does not require a work history. SSDI is based on your own or a family member's Social Security record. For example, if you became disabled before reaching retirement age, you might receive SSDI based on your own work record. If you are a widow or widower, you might receive SSDI based on your deceased spouse's record.
Forms are central to the SSDI process because they create an official record that the SSA uses to make decisions. The information you provide in these forms becomes part of your case file. Medical evidence, employment records, and personal details all work together to help decision-makers understand your situation. Taking time to understand what each form requests makes the process clearer.
Practical Takeaway: SSDI forms are tools for documenting your medical condition, work history, and personal circumstances. Before filling out any form, gather medical records from your doctors, information about past jobs, and dates of treatment. Having these documents ready makes completing forms much more straightforward.
Form SSA-3368: The Function Report for Adults
The SSA-3368 form, officially called the "Function Report—Adult," asks detailed questions about how your medical condition affects your daily life. This form is not about your diagnosis alone—it focuses on what you can and cannot do because of your condition. The SSA wants to understand whether your condition prevents you from working at any job, not just your previous occupation.
Learn About Scheduling at MVD Las Cruces →
The Function Report covers multiple areas of daily functioning. It asks about your ability to care for yourself, such as bathing, dressing, and preparing meals. It questions your ability to handle money, pay bills, and manage household tasks. The form also explores your capacity to get along with others, follow instructions, and handle stress. Each section includes follow-up questions that ask for specific examples.
For instance, if the form asks whether you can do household chores, you might answer "No, I cannot." The follow-up question then asks why. You might write that your back pain makes it impossible to bend down to clean floors, or that your cognitive condition makes it hard to remember multi-step tasks. These specific examples show how your condition directly affects your ability to function.
The Function Report also asks about your work history and any attempts you have made to work since your condition began. If you have tried to work and had to stop, the SSA wants to know what happened. Perhaps you worked part-time for three months but could not continue because your symptoms worsened. Perhaps you tried to work from home but could not maintain a schedule. These details help paint a picture of your limitations.
Many people struggle with the Function Report because it requires honest self-assessment. It can feel awkward to describe limitations, but accuracy is important. The SSA compares your answers on this form with medical evidence and statements from doctors. Consistency between what you report about your functioning and what medical records show strengthens your case.
Practical Takeaway: When completing the Function Report, write specific examples of how your condition affects you. Instead of saying "I cannot work," explain what happens when you try—for example, "After standing for 20 minutes, my leg pain becomes severe and I must sit down." Details make your case clearer to reviewers.
Form SSA-3373: Medical Evidence of Your Condition
The SSA-3373, known as the "Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration," is a legal form that gives the SSA permission to gather medical records from your doctors, hospitals, and clinics. Without this signed authorization, doctors cannot release your medical information to the SSA. This form protects your privacy while allowing the SSA to obtain the medical evidence needed to review your case.
Learn About Illinois FOID Card Processing Times →
On this authorization form, you list the names and addresses of healthcare providers who have treated you for your condition. These might include your primary care doctor, specialists (such as a cardiologist or neurologist), hospitals where you had procedures or were admitted, and mental health providers. The form asks for the dates you received treatment at each location, though approximate dates are acceptable if you are unsure of exact ones.
By signing the SSA-3373, you are instructing your providers to send copies of your medical records to the Social Security Administration. Your providers will include office visit notes, test results, imaging reports (like X-rays or MRIs), lab work, and medication lists. These records document your condition and treatment history, providing the medical evidence the SSA reviews when making decisions.
It is important to be thorough when filling out this form. If you forget to list a healthcare provider, the SSA will not receive records from that provider. This can be a problem if that provider has important medical evidence. For example, if you saw a rheumatologist for six months but forgot to list them, the SSA might not have that specialist's evaluation of your condition. You can always submit additional authorizations later if you remember more providers.
Healthcare providers typically charge a fee for copying and sending records, though some providers offer free copies if you ask directly. When you complete the SSA-3373, you are usually authorizing the SSA to pay any reasonable copying fees from your case funds. This means you do not pay out of pocket for records obtained this way.
Practical Takeaway: Create a list of every doctor, specialist, hospital, and clinic that has treated your medical condition. Include dates of visits if you remember them. Use this list when completing the authorization form to ensure the SSA requests records from all relevant providers.
Form SSA-3380: Work History and Past Employment Details
The SSA-3368-BK, often called the "Work History Report," is part of the Function Report package and asks about your employment background. The SSA needs to understand your past work experience because SSDI is based on your work record. Additionally, the SSA wants to know whether your past jobs involved physical demands, mental concentration, or specific skills that might be difficult with your current condition.
Understanding Binge Eating: Signs and Treatment Options →
On this form, you list all jobs you have held over a certain period (usually the last 15 years or since your condition started, whichever is shorter). For each job, you provide information such as the job title, the company name, dates you worked there, and what you did on the job. You also describe the physical demands—whether you sat, stood, walked, lifted, or climbed during the workday.
The form asks you to estimate how much you lifted or carried regularly. For example, you might indicate that as a warehouse worker, you regularly lifted 40-pound boxes, or that as an office worker, you carried light files and papers. You also note how many hours per day you spent performing different tasks, such as sitting at a desk, walking around the workplace, or using machinery.
Understanding your work history helps the SSA determine what types of work might still be possible for you despite your condition. For instance, if all your past jobs involved heavy physical labor but you now have a condition limiting your ability to walk or stand, this information shows why you cannot return to your previous type of work. Conversely, if you worked in jobs requiring mental focus and your condition is purely physical, the SSA might explore whether sedentary work is possible.
You should be specific about the skills required in your past jobs. If you worked as a bookkeeper, note that you used accounting software, worked with numbers, and reconciled records. If you worked as a teacher, mention that you managed a classroom, prepared lesson plans, and communicated with parents. These details help the SSA understand your skill set and what types of work might require similar skills.
Practical Takeaway: Write down your work history before filling out the form. For each job, note the title, dates, physical demands, and main responsibilities. Be as detailed as possible—this information helps decision-makers understand your