The questions on your SSDI process cover your work history, medical condition, and daily functioning

The SSDI process itself—called the Adult Disability Report (Form SSA-3368) if you explore online, or a longer paper version if you explore in person—asks for three categories of information: who you are and where you've worked, what your medical condition is, and how that condition affects what you can do. The Social Security Administration uses your answers to determine whether you meet their definition of disability: unable to work for at least 12 months due to a medical condition, or a condition expected to result in death.

You will answer some questions multiple times in different ways. This is intentional. Social Security cross-checks your answers to spot inconsistencies. If you say you can't lift 10 pounds but also say you do yard work regularly, that discrepancy gets flagged for review. The process is long—expect 20 to 40 minutes if you're prepared, longer if you have to look up dates and addresses.

Key Takeaways

  • The process asks for your complete work history going back 15 years, including job titles, dates, and what you actually did each day.
  • You will describe your medical condition, the doctors who treat it, and the dates you first noticed symptoms or received diagnosis.
  • Social Security asks detailed questions about your daily activities—what you can and cannot do physically and mentally—to understand how your condition limits you.
  • Inconsistencies between your answers and your medical records, or between different parts of your process, will delay your case and may trigger a denial.
  • Bring documents with you or have them ready to upload: pay stubs, tax returns, medical records, and a list of all medications you take.

Personal and Work History Questions

The process opens with basic identification: your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. Then it moves to work. Social Security asks you to list every job you've held in the past 15 years, starting with the most recent. For each job, you provide the employer's name and address, your job title, the dates you worked there (month and year), and how many hours per week you typically worked.

Then comes the part most people underestimate: a description of what you actually did in that job. Not the job title—what you did. If you were a cashier, you list: operated the register, handled cash, scanned items, answered customer questions, stood for 8 hours. If you were an office manager, you list: answered phones, scheduled appointments, managed files, trained staff, sat at a desk. Social Security uses this to understand the physical and mental demands you were meeting before your condition made work impossible. If your process later says you can't sit for more than 2 hours, but you worked as an office manager for 40 hours a week, that's a red flag.

You also list the name and phone number of a supervisor or someone who can verify your employment. Social Security may contact them. If you're self-employed, you provide the business name, what the business did, and your net monthly income for the past 12 months.

Medical Condition and Treatment Questions

Social Security asks you to describe your condition in your own words: what is wrong with you, when did it start, and what symptoms do you have. You then list every doctor, specialist, hospital, or clinic that has treated you for this condition. For each provider, you give their name, address, phone number, and the dates you saw them. You also list the specific condition they treated you for—this matters because Social Security will request medical records from each provider you name.

You list all medications you take, including the name of each drug, the dose, and how often you take it. If you've had surgery, imaging (like an MRI or X-ray), or lab work related to your condition, you describe those and provide approximate dates. Social Security will request these records directly from your providers, but listing them yourself speeds up the process and shows you understand your own medical history.

The process also asks whether your condition is stable, getting worse, or improving. If you're in treatment, you describe what treatment you're receiving and whether it's helping. If you've tried treatments that didn't work, you can mention those—they show you've been actively trying to manage your condition. If you're not currently in treatment, Social Security will ask why, and you need a clear answer: you can't afford it, you tried it and it didn't help, your doctor said you don't need it, or another concrete reason.

Questions About What You Can and Cannot Do

This section is where your daily life becomes the evidence. Social Security asks: Can you walk? How far? Can you stand? For how long? Can you sit? Can you lift? How much? Can you use your hands for fine tasks like writing or buttoning? Can you see? Can you hear? Can you remember instructions? Can you get along with others?

These aren't yes-or-no questions. You describe your actual limits. "I can walk to the mailbox but not to the store" is more useful than "I can't walk." "I can sit for 30 minutes before my back pain forces me to lie down" is more useful than "I can't sit." "I get confused if there are more than two steps in an instruction" is more useful than "I have memory problems."

You also describe your typical day: what time you wake up, what activities you do, what time you go to bed. You list any hobbies or activities you do regularly. If you say you can't work because of pain, but you also say you spend 4 hours a day gardening, Social Security will question whether your condition really prevents work. If you say you have severe anxiety and can't be around people, but you volunteer at a community center, that's a contradiction that will be investigated.

The process asks whether you've tried to work since your condition started, and if so, what happened. Did you try part-time work? Did you have to stop? Why? How long did you last? These answers show whether you've actually tested your limits or whether you're assuming you can't work.

Questions About Your Living Situation and Support

Social Security asks who you live with, whether you're married or in a domestic partnership, and whether anyone helps you with daily tasks. If someone does help you—a spouse, family member, or paid caregiver—you describe what they help with: cooking, cleaning, managing medications, transportation, personal care. This information helps Social Security understand the severity of your condition. If you need someone to help you bathe and dress, that's strong evidence of disability. If you need help only with heavy cleaning, that's less severe.

You're also asked about your income and resources: do you have savings, investments, or property other than your home? This information is used to determine whether you might be financially may be able to access for SSDI (SSDI has a resource limit of $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples, though the home you live in doesn't count). It does not affect whether you're medically disabled, but it does affect whether you can receive benefits.

Questions About Prior Disability Claims and Appeals

Social Security asks whether you've ever filed for disability benefits before, either through SSDI or through Supplemental Security Income (SSI, a different program for people with low income). If you have, you provide the dates you filed and the outcome: was it approved, denied, or withdrawn? If it was denied, did you appeal? This history matters because if you were denied before, Social Security will review why and determine whether your condition has worsened or whether new evidence changes the outcome.

You're also asked whether you're currently receiving workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, or any other government benefits. These don't disqualify you from SSDI, but Social Security needs to know because benefits may be offset or coordinated with other programs.

What Happens After You Answer These Questions

Once you submit your process, Social Security sends you a notice acknowledging receipt. Within a few weeks, they send you a form called the Function Report (Form SSA-3373). This asks many of the same questions about your daily activities in even more detail. You fill it out and return it. Social Security also requests your medical records from every provider you named. This process typically takes 30 to 60 days.

A disability examiner then reviews your process, your answers, and your medical records together. They're looking for consistency: do your medical records support what you said about your condition? Do your daily activities match the severity described in your medical records? Do your work history and job duties match what you're now saying you can't do?

If everything aligns and your medical condition meets Social Security's criteria for disability, you're approved. If there are gaps or inconsistencies, the examiner may request more information from you or your doctors, or they may deny your claim. You then have the right to appeal.

How to Prepare Your Answers Before You explore

Gather documents before you start: your Social Security card, birth certificate, and driver's license for identification. Write down every job you've held in the past 15 years with dates and a description of what you did. List every doctor, specialist, and hospital you've seen, with addresses and phone numbers if you have them. List all medications you take. Write down the dates of any surgeries, imaging, or lab work.

Then write a timeline of your condition: when did symptoms start, what happened next, when did you see a doctor, what was the diagnosis, what treatments have you tried, and how has it progressed. This helps you answer the medical questions accurately and completely.

Finally, write a detailed description of your typical day: what time you wake, what you do, what activities you can and cannot do, and what time you go to bed. Include any hobbies or regular activities. This becomes your reference when you answer the daily functioning questions. Consistency between this description and your medical records is what makes an process strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't remember exact dates for my jobs or medical visits?

Approximate dates are acceptable. Write "approximately June 2019" or "summer of 2019" rather than leaving it blank. Social Security will verify employment dates with your former employers and medical dates with your providers. Estimates are better than missing information, and they show you tried to be accurate.

Can I describe my condition differently than my doctor does?

You describe your condition in your own words, but your description should match what your medical records say. If your doctor's records say you have moderate depression and you say you're completely unable to function, Social Security will notice the gap. Use your own language, but stay consistent with what your medical providers have documented.

What if I'm not currently seeing a doctor?

You need to explain why. If you can't afford treatment, say that. If you tried treatment and it didn't help, say that. If your condition is stable and your doctor said you don't need ongoing visits, say that. Social Security will question why you're not in treatment, so have a clear answer ready. If possible, see a doctor before you explore so you have recent medical records to submit.

Should I list activities I do even though they cause pain or symptoms?

Yes. Be honest about what you do and what it costs you. "I can cook dinner but my hands hurt afterward" or "I can visit my grandchildren for 2 hours before exhaustion forces me to rest" is more credible than claiming you can't do anything. Social Security expects people with disabilities to push through some activities. What matters is whether you can sustain work-level activity—typically 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a month at a time.

What if my condition affects my memory and I can't remember all the details?

Bring someone with you or have them available by phone when you explore. A family member or friend can help you remember dates and details. You can also ask your doctors' offices for copies of your medical records, which will have dates and details you can reference. Write down what you do remember and note what you're uncertain about.