Which Forms the Social Security Administration Requires

You will fill out three core forms when you start an SSDI process with the Social Security Administration. The first is Form SSA-3368, the process for Disability Insurance Benefits. The second is Form SSA-3373, the Adult Disability Report. The third is Form SSA-827, the Authorisation to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration. You cannot move forward without all three, and Social Security will not process your process if any are missing or incomplete.

These three forms work together. The SSA-3368 tells Social Security who you are, when your disability began, and why you cannot work. The SSA-3373 asks detailed questions about your medical history, your work history, and how your condition affects daily tasks. The SSA-827 gives Social Security permission to contact your doctors, hospitals, and previous employers to verify what you have told them. Without the SSA-827, Social Security cannot pull your medical records, and your case will stall.

You can start your process online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. If you start online, Social Security will mail you the paper forms to sign and return. If you call or visit in person, a representative can walk you through the questions and help you fill them out on the spot. Either way, you end up with the same three forms.

Key Takeaways

  • Form SSA-3368 (process for Disability Insurance Benefits), Form SSA-3373 (Adult Disability Report), and Form SSA-827 (Authorisation to Disclose Information) are the three required forms, and Social Security will not process your case without all three.
  • The SSA-3368 covers your identity and work history; the SSA-3373 covers your medical history and how your condition affects you; the SSA-827 gives Social Security permission to contact your doctors and employers.
  • You can start online, by phone, or in person, but you will eventually sign and return paper copies of all three forms.
  • Incomplete or missing forms cause delays of weeks or months, so double-check that every question is answered before you mail them back.

What Form SSA-3368 Asks You

Form SSA-3368 is the main process. It asks for your name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current address. It asks when you stopped working and why. It asks whether you have ever been married, divorced, or widowed, because some family members may be able to receive benefits on your record. It asks whether you have filed for workers' compensation or other disability benefits, because Social Security needs to know if you are receiving payments from another source.

The form also asks you to list every job you held in the 15 years before you stopped working. For each job, you write the job title, the name of the company, the dates you worked there, and what you did. Social Security uses this to understand your work history and to contact employers if they need to verify your earnings. If you worked for yourself, you will need to describe your business and provide tax returns later.

Near the end of the form, you describe your condition in your own words. You write what is wrong with you, when it started, and what doctors or hospitals have treated you. You do not need medical language — "my back hurts when I bend" is better than trying to guess the diagnosis. Social Security will get the medical details from your doctors' records once you sign the SSA-827.

What Form SSA-3373 Asks You

Form SSA-3373 is longer and more detailed. It walks through your medical history month by month or year by year, depending on how long you have been disabled. It asks about every surgery, hospital stay, and ongoing treatment. It asks the names and addresses of every doctor, specialist, and therapist who has treated you. It asks when you last saw each one and what they treated you for.

The form then asks how your condition affects you. It asks whether you can walk, climb stairs, lift things, sit for long periods, or stand for long periods. It asks whether you can concentrate, remember instructions, or get along with other people. It asks whether you have pain, fatigue, or other symptoms that come and go. These questions matter because Social Security uses the answers to understand whether you can do any kind of work, not just your old job.

The form also asks about your daily life. It asks what time you wake up, what you do during the day, whether you cook or clean, whether you drive, and whether you leave your home. Social Security is not trying to catch you in a lie — they are trying to understand how severe your condition is. If you say you cannot walk more than a few blocks but you also say you drive yourself to appointments, that is not a contradiction. Write what is actually true.

What Form SSA-827 Does

Form SSA-827 is short but essential. It is a one-page authorization that you sign and date. By signing it, you tell Social Security that they can contact your doctors, hospitals, clinics, therapists, pharmacies, and employers to ask for records about you. You can list specific providers or you can authorize Social Security to contact anyone who has treated you or employed you.

Most people check the box that says Social Security can contact anyone. This is faster because you do not have to list every doctor you have ever seen. If you have privacy concerns about a specific provider, you can list only the ones you want Social Security to contact, but this may slow down your case because Social Security will have incomplete medical records.

You must sign the SSA-827 in front of a witness or notary, or you can sign it and have Social Security witness your signature when you submit it in person. If you are filling out the forms online and printing them, you can sign them at home and mail them back — Social Security does not require a notary for mailed forms. Check the current rules on ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm what your local office accepts.

Documents You Will Need While Filling Out the Forms

Before you sit down to fill out the forms, gather these documents. You will need your Social Security card or a document that shows your Social Security number. You will need a birth certificate or passport to prove your date of birth. You will need your driver's license or state ID to prove your identity. You will need W-2 forms or tax returns from the past 15 years to list your work history accurately.

You will also need a list of every doctor, hospital, and clinic that has treated you, with their addresses and phone numbers if you have them. If you do not have addresses, Social Security can usually find them, but having them ready speeds things up. You will need the dates of any surgeries, hospital stays, or major treatments. You will need the names of any medications you take. If you have already filed for workers' compensation or other disability benefits, you will need the case numbers.

You do not need to submit medical records with the process. Social Security will request them from your doctors after you sign the SSA-827. Submitting records on your own can actually slow things down because Social Security prefers to get them directly from the source, where they can verify they are complete and official.

How To Submit the Forms Once You Have Filled Them Out

If you started your process online, Social Security will mail you the three forms to sign. You sign them, put them in the envelope Social Security provides, and mail them back. Keep a copy for your records before you mail them. Social Security will receive them within a week or two, depending on mail speed.

If you started by phone or in person, ask the representative whether you can sign the forms right there or whether you need to mail them back. Many local offices let you sign in front of a witness at the office, which means your process is officially submitted that day. If you have to mail them, do the same thing — sign, copy, and mail in the envelope provided.

Do not email the forms to Social Security. Do not fax them. Mail is the only method Social Security accepts for submitted signed forms. If you are worried about the forms getting lost in the mail, you can use certified mail with a return receipt, but regular mail is fine and Social Security receives thousands of applications by mail every day.

What Happens After You Submit the Forms

Once Social Security receives your signed forms, they will send you a letter confirming that your process is officially filed. This letter will include your process number. Write this number down and keep it somewhere safe — you will use it every time you call or visit Social Security about your case.

Social Security will then contact your doctors and request your medical records. This usually takes two to four weeks. While they are waiting for records, they may call you with follow-up questions if something on your forms is unclear. They may also schedule you for a consultative exam with a doctor Social Security hires, especially if your medical records are old or incomplete.

The entire process from submission to a decision usually takes three to six months, though it can take longer if your case is complex or if Social Security needs more information. You can call 1-800-772-1213 anytime to check on the status of your case using your process number.

Common Mistakes That Slow Down Your process

The most common mistake is leaving questions blank. If you do not answer a question, Social Security will send the forms back and ask you to complete them. This adds weeks to your timeline. If a question does not explore to you — for example, you have never been married — write "N/A" or "not applicable" so Social Security knows you read the question and chose not to answer it.

The second common mistake is writing illegibly. If Social Security cannot read your handwriting, they will call you to confirm what you wrote. If they cannot reach you, they will send the forms back. Use a pen, write clearly, and if you make a mistake, cross it out neatly and write the correction next to it. Do not use white-out.

The third mistake is not signing or dating the forms. All three forms must be signed and dated or they are not valid. If you forget to sign, Social Security will send them back unsigned. The fourth mistake is not including the SSA-827. Without it, Social Security cannot get your medical records and your case will not move forward. Check that all three forms are in the envelope before you seal it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fill out the forms online and submit them electronically?

You can start your process online at ssa.gov, and Social Security will guide you through the questions. However, you must print the forms, sign them by hand, and mail them back. Social Security does not accept electronically signed or emailed forms for SSDI applications.

What if I do not remember all my jobs from the past 15 years?

Write down the jobs you do remember in order, with approximate dates. If you have old pay stubs, tax returns, or W-2 forms, use those to fill in gaps. Social Security can also contact the Social Security Administration's earnings records to verify your work history, so you do not have to be perfect — just honest about what you recall.

Do I need to have my doctor fill out any forms?

No. You fill out the three forms yourself. Social Security will contact your doctor directly using the SSA-827 authorization and ask them to send medical records. Your doctor does not fill out a separate form unless Social Security specifically requests it later in your case.

What if I do not have an address for one of my doctors?

Write down the doctor's name and the city or hospital where you saw them. Social Security has access to medical provider directories and can usually locate the address. If you have a phone number, include that instead. Do your best with the information you have.

Can someone else fill out the forms for me?

Someone can help you fill them out, but you must sign them yourself. If you are unable to sign due to a disability, you can authorize someone to sign on your behalf, but you will need to contact Social Security in advance to arrange this. Call 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your specific situation.