Anyone who decides to file a claim for Social Security disability benefits, whether or not they have legal representation to assist in the matter, will need to be prepared to complete paperwork Social Security sends out. Failure to do so can result in a denied claim.
A legal representative can assist with filing the disability application, filing appeals and securing medical information from providers, but this does not mean the disability claimant has no work to do. It is important for claimants to stay active as much as they can during a claim and this requires completing forms and the willingness to attend specially scheduled exam appointments Social Security sets up. There are a number of forms Social Security may ask a claimant to complete, depending on the claimant’s specific history and impairments. Below is a closer look at some of the forms you may be asked to complete if you file a disability claim.
Authorization to Disclose Information: This is a very important release form claimants need to sign and date to allow Social Security to request and collect medical evidence for a disability claim. Failure to provide this to Social Security will result in an inability for Social Security to get evidence of a disability and most certainly result in a denied claim.
Function Report: This questionnaire will be sent to all adults to determine the daily ability to function for a claimant. Questions focus on a claimant’s living situation and their ability to perform daily tasks like meal preparation, personal care and other types of chores. It is important for a claimant to answer these questions to the best of their ability and to be honest about what their limitations are.
Work History Report: Adult claimants will receive this questionnaire to determine what past work the claimant performed. Because adult claims deal with an inability to work it is important for Social Security to determine what types of jobs the claimant has had in the past what type of pay they received. The report will ask a claimant about the past 15 years of work history prior to the claimant becoming disabled and will require the job title, the type of work and the dates worked.
Third Party Function Report: The claimant will be asked to complete the Function Report, but someone who knows the claimant well, or who lives with the claimant may be asked to complete the Function Report – Third Party form. This questionnaire asks similar questions to the typical Function Report, but based on the third party’s perspective of how the claimant performs daily activities. As is the case with the typical Function Report, it is important for the person completing the Third Party Function Report to answer the questions to the best of their ability and to be accurate in their answers.
Children Questionnaire: When the parent of a child files a claim for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to the child’s impairments, Social Security may send out this form. The questionnaire will ask about the child’s background, schooling and any specific testing the child has gone through.
These forms are not the only aspect of a disability claim, but it is very necessary to complete them and return them to Social Security. Because a claimant is required to comply with Social Security’s requests during the decision-making process any failure to return these forms can result in a medical denial of a claim that would require an appeal, but claimants may be asked to complete the forms again during the appeal process to determine if any changes have occurred.
