Written By: Jennifer Hinchey, the SSD Director
If you’re applying for Social Security Disability benefits, understanding how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates your symptoms is key. One of the most important rules in this process is SSR 16-3p, which helps guide how the SSA decides whether your symptoms—like pain, fatigue, or anxiety—prevent you from working.
This blog will explain what SSR 16-3p means in simple terms and how you can use your own words, especially in the Function Report (SSA-3373), to help your case at every stage.
What Is SSR 16-3p?
SSR 16-3p is a Social Security Ruling that tells the SSA how to evaluate your symptoms. It replaced an older rule that focused on whether your statements were “credible.” Now, the focus is on whether your symptoms are consistent with the medical and other evidence in your case.
The SSA uses a two-step process:
- Do you have a medically determinable impairment?
This means a doctor has diagnosed you with a physical or mental condition that could cause the symptoms you describe. - How do your symptoms affect your ability to work?
The SSA looks at how intense and long-lasting your symptoms are, and how they limit your ability to do work-related activities.
It’s Not Just About Your Old Job
Many people come to us and say that their doctors have told them that they will never be able to return to their old careers. But for SSA, that is only part of the analysis. This is what is referred to as STEP 4 in the 5-Step Evaluation.
If the SSA decides you can’t do your past work, they then ask: Can you do any other kind of work that exists in the national economy? This includes jobs you’ve never done before, as long as they match your age, education, and physical or mental abilities.
So even if you can’t return to your old job, the SSA might still deny your claim if they think you can do some other type of work.
This is often the most challenging thing for our clients to understand. For SSA, they don’t care if you can go back to your work as an accountant. They want to know if you have the residual functional capacity to be a cashier, a garment sorter, or a merchandise marker.
SSA may easily determine you can’t return to your work as a Nurse’s Assistant, but they will deny a claim, saying that you can do other less strenuous jobs. This is why the Function Report is so important. SSA must determine that you can do SOME job on a competitive basis. A “Competitive Basis” means 5 days a week with normal breaks and lunch periods. SSA believes you go to work for two hours and then get a 15-minute break. You return to work for another 2 hours, and then you get to go to lunch. After lunch, you come back to work and then get a
What Are “Work-Like Activities”?
To figure out if you can work, the SSA looks at your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)—basically, what you’re still able to do despite your condition. This includes:
- Physical abilities like sitting, standing, walking, lifting, and using your hands.
- Mental abilities like concentrating, following instructions, and dealing with stress.
The SSA uses your medical records, your own statements, and other evidence to figure this out.
Why Your Daily Activities Matter
One big piece of evidence the SSA looks at is your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These are the things you do every day, like:
- Getting dressed
- Cooking meals
- Cleaning your home
- Shopping
- Taking care of children or pets
- Socializing or going out
But here’s the key: Just because you can do some of these things doesn’t mean you can hold down a full-time job.
SSR 16-3p says that the SSA must look at how you do these activities:
- Do you need help?
- Do you take frequent breaks?
- Do you have to lie down afterward?
- Can you only do them for a short time?
For example, if you can cook a simple meal but have to sit down every few minutes because of back pain, that’s important. Or if you can go grocery shopping but it wipes you out for the rest of the day, that matters too.
The Importance of the SSA Function Report (Form SSA-3373)
One of the most important forms you’ll fill out during your disability claim is the Function Report (SSA-3373). This form asks about your daily activities, how your condition affects your ability to function, and what you can and can’t do.
Here’s why it’s so important:
1. It’s Your Voice in the Process
This is your chance to explain, in your own words, how your condition affects your life. Be honest and detailed. Don’t just say “I can’t clean.” Say why—“I can’t clean because bending over causes severe back pain, and I have to lie down afterward for an hour.”
2. It’s Used at Every Stage
The SSA, the ALJ (Administrative Law Judge), and even medical experts may refer to this form when reviewing your case. What you write here can follow your case all the way through.
3. Handwriting Matters
Filling out the form in your own handwriting shows that you personally completed it. If your handwriting is shaky, slow, or uneven, that can also reflect the physical or mental challenges you face. It adds authenticity and can support your claim in subtle but meaningful ways.
4. Be Consistent
Make sure your answers match what you’ve told your doctors and what’s in your medical records. If you say you can’t walk more than 10 minutes, but your doctor notes you walked a mile, that could raise questions. If your condition changes over time, explain that too.
Tips for Filling Out the Function Report
- Take your time. Don’t rush. Think carefully about each question.
- Be specific. Instead of saying “I get tired,” say “I get tired after standing for 10 minutes and need to rest for 30 minutes.”
- Use examples. Describe real situations—like how long it takes you to get dressed or how often you need help with cooking.
- Mention bad days. If your condition varies, explain what your worst days are like and how often they happen.
- Don’t downplay your struggles. Many people try to sound “tough” or don’t want to complain. But this is the time to be honest about how hard things really are.
Final Thoughts
Applying for disability benefits is tough, but understanding how the SSA evaluates your symptoms—and how your daily life fits into that picture—can help you present a stronger case.
Remember: The SSA isn’t just deciding if you can go back to your old job. They’re deciding if you can do any job at all, full-time, on a regular basis. And just because you can do a few things at home doesn’t mean you can meet the demands of competitive work.
Your Function Report is one of the most powerful tools you have. Use it to tell your story clearly, honestly, and in your own words. Many people understate their limitations because they don’t want to seem like they’re complaining. This is not the time to minimize your struggles. Be truthful and specific.
