 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
What Is The Social Security Disability Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire?How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits Social Security disability uses various methods of gathering information about an individual’s residual functional capacity. Residual functional capacity is a term used to describe what an individual is able to accomplish in spite of the limitations imposed upon them by their disabling condition or conditions. One method of getting a clearer picture of an individual’s condition and how it prevents them from working is to have information about an individual’s ability to perform routine daily activities. Routine daily activities might include grocery shopping, cleaning, driving, mowing the lawn, dressing, bathing, visiting family or friends, watching television or listening to the radio, or any other activity one might routinely perform in their every day life. The ability to perform everyday activities gives an indication of how severe an individual’s limitations are, which of course helps the disability examiner make a determination as to what an individual’s residual function capacity is. Most disability examiners do not stop at getting just the activities of daily living questionnaire from the disability applicant; they also send a third party questionnaire out to the third party contact person (the person the applicant listed as someone who knows about their conditions, generally a friend or family member). The third party questionnaire gives another perspective as to what an individual’s limitations are, and how their disabling condition or conditions have affected their ability to do the ordinary activities of life. But what do these questionnaires have to do with an individual being approved for Social Security disability? Well these questionnaires along with medical information from the claimant's medical records allow the Social Security disability examiner to make a determination as to the severity of an individual’s impairment (or impairments) and what the disability applicant’s residual capacity is. Once the disability examiner determines an individual’s residual functional capacity, they can evaluate their ability to perform any of their past work, or determine if they can perform any other kind of work. If the disability claimant cannot perform their past work or do any other type of work that might be thought suitable based on their age, education, and job skills, they may be approved for disability benefits. In summary, if you have filed for disability benefits with Social Security it is very important to thoroughly complete your activities of daily living questionnaire if one is sent to you. This is so that the disability examiner will have a good description of how limiting your impairment or impairments are. Also, make sure that your third party person completes their questionnaire and returns it to the disability examiners. It could make the difference in whether or not you win your disability benefits. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |