What doctors fill out and why Social Security needs it

Social Security does not decide whether you are disabled based on your word alone. The agency requires medical evidence — test results, treatment notes, diagnoses — and the most direct way to get that evidence is to ask your doctor to complete specific forms. The forms serve two purposes: they let your doctor explain your condition in the language Social Security understands, and they create an official record that Social Security can use to verify what you have told them.

Your doctor does not work for Social Security and is not required to fill out these forms, but most doctors' offices will do it if you ask, usually for a fee. The forms are not a diagnosis or a judgment about your disability — they are a structured way for your doctor to report medical facts: what they have observed, what tests show, what your limitations are, and how long those limitations are likely to last.

Key Takeaways

  • The Function Report — Adult (Form SSA-3373-BK) is the main form Social Security sends you; your doctor fills out a companion version (Form SSA-3373-B) that describes your physical and mental limitations in detail.
  • The Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment is not a single form but a medical opinion that your doctor writes, usually on their own letterhead, explaining what work-related tasks you can and cannot do.
  • Your doctor can charge a fee to complete these forms, and you typically pay out of pocket unless your state Medicaid program covers the cost.
  • Social Security will contact your doctor directly if they need clarification, but sending forms to your doctor yourself and following up speeds up the process.
  • If your regular doctor will not complete the forms, Social Security may send you to a consultative examination (CE) with a doctor they choose and pay for.

The Function Report and the doctor's companion form

Social Security will send you a Function Report — Adult (Form SSA-3373-BK) early in your case. This form asks you about your daily activities, your ability to work, and how your condition affects you. At the same time, or shortly after, Social Security may ask your doctor to complete the Function Report — Adult Medical Source Statement (Form SSA-3373-B).

The SSA-3373-B is the doctor's version. It asks your doctor to describe your medical condition, the treatments you receive, your symptoms, and your functional limitations — what you cannot do because of your condition. Your doctor checks boxes and writes narrative explanations. The form covers physical abilities (lifting, standing, sitting, walking), mental abilities (memory, concentration, following instructions), and how your condition affects your ability to work.

You can request this form from your doctor's office yourself, or you can wait for Social Security to send it to your doctor. If you send it yourself, include a cover letter explaining that you have filed for disability and ask your doctor to return it to you or directly to Social Security. Provide your Social Security number and case number so the form does not get lost.

The Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment

The Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is a medical opinion about what work you can still do despite your condition. It is not a single form with a number; instead, your doctor writes it on their letterhead as a letter or report. The RFC answers specific questions: Can you lift more than 10 pounds? Can you stand for eight hours a day? Can you concentrate for two hours at a time? Can you follow complex instructions?

Social Security uses the RFC to match your remaining abilities against jobs that exist in the national economy. If your RFC shows you cannot do any job, you have a stronger case. If your RFC shows you can do some work, Social Security will argue you are not disabled. Your doctor's RFC is one piece of evidence; Social Security also develops its own RFC based on all the medical records in your file.

An RFC from your treating doctor carries more weight than an RFC from a doctor who has never examined you. If you have been seeing the same doctor for years, ask them to write an RFC that covers your current condition and prognosis. The letter should be specific: not "the claimant cannot work" but "the claimant cannot lift more than 10 pounds, cannot stand more than four hours in an eight-hour day, and cannot concentrate for more than 30 minutes at a time."

Consultative examinations when your doctor will not cooperate

If your doctor refuses to complete forms, or if you do not have a treating doctor, Social Security will order a Consultative Examination (CE). Social Security pays for the CE and chooses the doctor. You will receive a notice telling you the date, time, and location of the appointment. You must attend; missing a CE without good reason can result in denial of your claim.

The CE doctor is not your doctor and will not become your doctor. They will examine you once, review your medical records, and write a report for Social Security. The CE is usually brief — 30 minutes to an hour — and focuses on the specific questions Social Security needs answered. The CE doctor's opinion becomes part of your file, and Social Security weighs it against opinions from your treating doctors.

If you attend a CE, bring any recent medical records you have, a list of your medications, and a list of your symptoms. Be honest about what you can and cannot do. The CE doctor will document your appearance, your ability to move, your speech and memory, and your mood. Do not exaggerate or minimize your condition; the doctor is trained to spot inconsistencies.

How to request forms from your doctor and what to expect

Call your doctor's office and ask to speak with the medical records or billing department. Tell them you have filed for Social Security disability and need your doctor to complete medical forms. Ask which forms they need and whether there is a fee. Most offices charge between $50 and $200 per form, depending on how much writing is required.

Provide your doctor with the specific form number (SSA-3373-B, for example) or a copy of the form itself. You can read forms from Social Security's website or ask Social Security to send them to you. Include a cover letter with your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Ask your doctor to return the completed form to you or directly to Social Security within two weeks.

If your doctor's office does not respond within three weeks, call again. Medical offices are busy and forms can get lost. Be persistent but polite. If your doctor truly will not complete the forms, ask why — some doctors refuse because they do not understand what Social Security needs, and a conversation may change their mind. If they still refuse, Social Security will order a CE instead.

What happens after your doctor submits the forms

Social Security will add your doctor's forms to your case file. A Social Security disability examiner will review them alongside your medical records, your work history, and your age. The examiner may contact your doctor for clarification if something is unclear or contradicts other evidence in the file.

Your doctor's forms do not determine the outcome of your case by themselves. Social Security weighs all the evidence and makes its own judgment about whether you meet the definition of disability. If your doctor says you cannot work and Social Security disagrees, the agency will explain its reasoning in the decision letter. You can then request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge and present your doctor's opinion as evidence.

If your claim is denied and you appeal, your doctor's forms become even more important. At a hearing, you can ask your doctor to testify about the forms they completed, and the judge will hear directly from them. This is why getting detailed, specific forms from your treating doctor — the doctor who knows you best — is worth the effort and the fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my doctor refuse to fill out Social Security forms?

Yes. Your doctor is not required to complete forms for you. However, most doctors will do it if you ask and pay the fee. If your doctor refuses, Social Security will order a consultative examination with a doctor they choose and pay for. The CE doctor's opinion may not be as favorable as your treating doctor's would have been.

How much does it cost to have my doctor fill out forms?

Fees vary by doctor and location, typically between $50 and $200 per form. Some doctors charge a flat fee for all forms related to one case. Ask your doctor's office before requesting the forms. In some states, Medicaid covers the cost if you are Medicaid-may be able to access; call your state Medicaid office to ask.

What if my doctor's opinion disagrees with Social Security's decision?

Social Security does not automatically accept your doctor's opinion, even if your doctor says you cannot work. The agency weighs your doctor's opinion against other medical evidence, your age, education, and work history. If you disagree with Social Security's decision, you can request a hearing and present your doctor's forms and testimony as evidence to a judge.

Do I have to attend a consultative examination?

Yes. If Social Security orders a CE, you must attend. Missing the appointment without a valid reason (illness, transportation emergency) can result in denial of your claim. If you cannot attend on the scheduled date, call Social Security when ready and ask to reschedule.

Should I send forms directly to my doctor or wait for Social Security to send them?

Sending them yourself is faster. If you wait for Social Security to send forms to your doctor, it adds weeks to the process. read the forms from Social Security's website, include a cover letter with your case information, and deliver them to your doctor's office in person or by mail. Follow up after two weeks if you have not heard back.