When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits, you will receive two forms that Social Security examines more closely than any other documents in your file. Most people do not realize just how important these forms are until it’s too late.

The Work History Report (SSA-3369) and the Function Report (SSA-3373) are sent to nearly every disability applicant. Social Security uses these forms to understand your work background and how your medical condition affects your daily life. What you write on these forms can determine whether you receive disability payments or get denied.

What Does the Work History Report Ask For?

The Work History Report asks you to list every job you have held in the last 15 years. For each job, Social Security wants to know things like: how much you lifted, how long you stood or sat, what tools you used, and whether the work required reading, writing, or decision-making. They use this information to determine what kind of work you’re capable of doing now.

SSA uses this report for two purposes: first, to determine whether your past work was performed at a Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, and second, to match your job responsibilities against standardized job descriptions in their vocational database. This comparison happens at Step 4 of the disability determination process, where SSA evaluates whether you can return to your past work “as generally performed in the national economy” versus how you actually performed it.

Here’s where people make mistakes. When filling out the form, many people describe the first thing that comes to mind rather than thinking through what a typical hard day of work actually looked like. For example, if you were a kitchen helper and only write that you washed dishes weighing 5-10 pounds, SSA might conclude that your current limitations don’t prevent you from doing that same light work—even if you also regularly moved boxes, cleaned heavy pots and pans, or performed other demanding tasks you didn’t mention.

That’s why it’s critical to describe all your regular job responsibilities in detail, not just the easiest parts. Don’t exaggerate, but don’t minimize either. Be thorough and specific about everything the job actually required.

There’s a technical reason this matters. When SSA evaluates your past work, they use a vocational tool called the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). SSA is currently updating this with the Department of Labor, but many job descriptions haven’t been revised since the 1970s or 1980s. Many modern jobs don’t have accurate comparisons in the DOT.

When there are significant differences between how you actually performed your job and how the DOT describes that job category, disability attorneys can argue that you held a “composite job”—a position that combines duties from multiple DOT classifications. When successful, this argument works in your favor. Here’s why: at Step 4, you can only be denied, not approved. SSA can deny you either because you can return to your past work as you performed it, or because you can return to that work as it’s generally performed in the national economy. If your job qualifies as a composite job, SSA loses one of those two grounds for denial because composite jobs aren’t considered to exist in the national economy. This strategy is most effective for jobs with multiple responsibilities, especially in smaller companies, but it can apply in various scenarios.

The key takeaway: give SSA detailed, accurate information about your actual job duties, because that information becomes the foundation for strategic arguments later in the process.

What Does the Function Report Ask For?

The Function Report asks how your disability affects your daily activities. Can you dress yourself? Prepare meals? Drive to the store? Social Security is looking for evidence that your condition limits what you can do on a daily basis.

What’s important is that you’re not exaggerating, but also not minimizing your conditions or how they limit you. In everyday conversation, you might tell a friend “I can’t walk” or “I can’t lift anything” when what you mean is that these activities are difficult or painful. But SSA is looking for your actual limitations—what you’re able to do and how you’re able to do it. Be specific.

SSA examines function reports carefully for two reasons: to assess your credibility and to identify activities that might contradict your claimed limitations. For example, if you write that you “clean your house,” SSA may interpret that as evidence you have no difficulty performing household tasks, which could undermine your claim. The solution is to be detailed and honest. If you can clean for 10 minutes before needing to rest for an hour, say that. If you can only prepare simple meals because standing causes pain, explain that.

We Are Here to Help

To determine whether you or your client qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, contact Walker Firm PC dba Casa de la Justicia for a free 10-minute evaluation. Our experienced team can quickly assess whether your medical condition meets Social Security’s strict eligibility requirements and guide you through the application process at no out of pocket costs to you. We also maintain trusted referral partnerships with skilled attorneys who handle personal injury matters—including auto accidents, slip and fall cases, and pedestrian injuries—as well as workers’ compensation claims. Call Walker Firm PC dba Casa de la Justicia today at 1-800-454-5454 to take the first step toward securing your benefits.