SSA-3380 Third-Party Function Report

When you apply for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) needs more than medical records to understand your limitations. It uses function reports to see how your condition affects the basic tasks you do every day, like getting dressed, cooking, shopping, managing money, socializing, and doing household chores.

SSA calls these Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

You complete one of these forms, the Adult Function Report, form SSA-3373. People who know you, like a family member, friend, neighbor, or caregiver, may be asked to do a Third-Party Function Report, form SSA-3380. It’s important to understand how these forms work together.

Both forms ask detailed questions about what you can do, what you struggle with, how long tasks take, and whether you need reminders or help. Answers give the SSA a clearer picture of how your condition affects your ability to function and work.

This article focuses on the Third-Party Function Report, form SSA-3380. You may wonder why someone else needs to fill out paperwork about you. The SSA uses it to see your daily limitations from another perspective and see if statements about your limitations are consistent.

It's normal to worry about doing this form right. Read on for helpful tips and examples on completing the report.

When and Why the SSA Sends SSA-3380

The SSA usually sends the SSA-3380 after you file your initial disability application, though it may be requested later during reconsideration. Not every claim needs this form, though. When requested, it means examiners want another perspective on how you function day to day.

The SSA-3380 is a 10-page form that usually takes an hour or and hour and a half complete. If you’re doing the report for someone’s case, it’s important to be honest, specific, and clear about struggles you’ve seen over time.

Below, we’ll cover what the SSA is really asking, how to describe daily activities in a useful way, and simple example answers for some of the harder questions. Here’s how to move through the next steps with confidence.

Activities of Daily Living Report

By the time the SSA-3380 is requested, the SSA already knows the diagnosis and has medical records. But it still needs a clearer picture of how the condition shows up in everyday life. Information about ADLs help examiners understand someone’s energy, pace, and stamina throughout the day.

If you’re filling out the SSA-3380 for someone, explain what you see most often, not just on the best days. Sharing someone’s limitations may feel uncomfortable. But this helps the SSA understand what the person can manage, what they can only do with help or breaks, and what they can’t do anymore.

Examiners need to understand how their condition affects independence and reliability from day to day. Your perspective matters.

Quick Tips Before You Describe Activities of Daily Living

A couple of quick tips can make this form much easier to fill out.

• Be honest about average and tough days, not a good day.
• Use specific examples instead of general statements, like “they need help getting in and out of the bathtub,” not “they have trouble in the bathroom.”
• Include how long tasks take and what happens afterward, like they have pain, fatigue, or need to lie down.
• It’s fine to say “I don’t know” when that’s the truth. Don’t guess.
• Keep comments consistent with what the person told their doctors and the SSA.

How to Document Activities of Daily Living

When you fill out the SSA-3380, describe what you see on most days. How does the person move through routines? What takes them extra time? What can’t they do without help? Focus on specific examples. This helps examiners see how the condition affects independence and reliability.

Personal Care

Let’s look at the daily routines that start the day. Personal care includes getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, grooming, brushing teeth, shaving, using the bathroom, and managing menstrual care. The SSA wants to know what the person can do without help, what you assist with, and what now takes much longer than it used to.

Ask yourself what you’ve seen:

• Do you help with buttons, zippers, socks, or shoes because they can’t bend or use their hands well?
• Do you have to remind them to bathe or brush their teeth because of memory loss or depression?
• Are there safety concerns, like fall risks in the shower or trouble stepping over the tub?

Strong answers are specific and detailed. That may sound like: “Most mornings I help her pull on socks and shoes because she can’t bend at the waist. Getting fully dressed takes 30 to 40 minutes and she usually has to sit and rest halfway through.”

A weak answer lacks those details, such as “I help her get dressed.”

Another strong answer for a mental condition may sound like: “He forgets to shower unless I remind him. Some weeks, he only showers once or twice because his depression is severe and he has no energy.”

Moving Around

Questions about how the person moves around include walking, standing, sitting, climbing stairs, getting in and out of chairs or cars, carrying items, and using mobility aids like a cane, walker, or wheelchair. The SSA wants to know how long or how far they can do these things before needing to stop or change positions.

Think about what you’ve observed:

• How far can they walk before they need a break?
• How long can they stand at the sink or stove?
• How long can they sit before they need to shift or lie down?
• Have you seen them stumble or fall? How often?
• Do they use mobility aids? How often do you see them rely on those?

A good answer example sounds like: “On most days, she can walk about half a block with her cane before needing to sit down. Stairs are very difficult for her, so I bring laundry and groceries upstairs.”

Another example: “If he sits more than 15 to 20 minutes, his back stiffens and he needs help standing. He often leans on furniture to move from room to room.”

Recreational and Social Activities

The SSA also looks at hobbies and social life because these routines show how often someone leaves home, how they get along with others, and how well they handle stress, noise, or changes in routine.

Think about what they enjoyed before and how often they did those activities. What can they still do now? Have they cut back or stopped entirely? Do they avoid plans because of pain, fatigue, or anxiety? Do they only go places if you drive or stay with them?

A good answer example sound like: “He used to play basketball twice a week. Now he only watches games on TV and hasn’t played in over two years because knee pain makes running and jumping impossible.”

Another example might be: “She rarely leaves the house alone. She cancels most social plans because of panic attacks and usually only sees me and her partner.”

Putting It All Together

These examples are most helpful when you think about them as a whole. When you explain patterns, the limits become much clearer to examiners. If someone struggles to shower, stand long enough to cook, or have even a short visit with friends, it helps show why holding a job is difficult. Focus on the routines you see most often, the worst or best day. Clear, specific stories help examiners understand the person’s limits.

Completing the Function Report

The SSA-3380 asks about the same parts of daily life in different ways. That’s normal. Examiners do this to understand patterns, not to trip you up. Take your time with each section. Use extra paper if you need more space. Focus on what you see on most days, not a rare, good day when symptoms ease.

The form asks about many areas of daily life: activities the person used to do but can’t now, caring for others or pets, bathing and dressing, cooking and how long it takes, time spent with friends or family, hobbies, and how often they leave the house. Your answers help the SSA see how the person’s condition affects daily routines and overall independence.

How to Fill Out SSA-3380 Step by Step

Here’s a simple way to start the form without feeling overwhelmed. Start by explaining who you are, how you know the person who’s applying, and how often you see them. This gives the SSA context for your observations.

Next, describe a typical day from morning to night. Think about the ADL categories – personal care, moving around, household tasks, meals, errands, and social activities. Then answer the sections on chores, cooking, shopping, and caring for others. Add details about what they do on their own and what you help with.

Answer the questions about mobility, pain, and fatigue. Be clear about limits you’ve seen in how long they can sit, stand, walk, and what happens when they try these movements. Finish with the parts about hobbies, mood, memory, stress, and social life. Explain all the changes you’ve noticed. Use the remarks page for anything that didn’t fit in the boxes or where you’d like to add more detail.

DO/DON’T List for Third-Party Helpers

These simple do’s and don’ts can make your answers clearer and more helpful.

DO:

• Describe only what you see, not what you think might be happening.
• Explain how often things happen, like falls, panic attacks, or canceled plans.
• Mention safety concerns, like leaving the stove on, falling in the shower, or forgetting medications.

DON’T:

• Downplay struggles because you don’t want the person to seem weak.
• Exaggerate or say they never do something if they can manage it sometimes.
• Copy their answers or try to match them exactly. Examiners want your view.

Your Review Checklist Before Submitting Your SSA-3380

A quick review before you submit the form can prevent mixed messages in the file.

1. Check that your answers don’t make the person seem more capable their report to SSA.
2. Make sure your examples match their limits. If they can’t stand more than 10 minutes, don’t suggest they stand and cook every night.
3. If you don’t know the answer to something, write “I don’t know” instead of guessing.

What Happens After You Send in Your SSA-3380

After you submit the SSA-3380, the SSA adds it to the disability file and reviews it along with medical records, the Adult Function Report, and any other evidence in the case. Examiners compare your observations with the rest of the file to see whether the person’s daily limits appear consistent. They may send more forms, ask follow-up questions, or schedule a consultative exam if they need more details.

If you or the person you’re helping feels overwhelmed – or there’s already been a denial – don’t fret. Advocate can guide you.