What is the Function Report?
The function report is a very important form that gets sent when you apply for social security. Most people think it is a meaningless form and don’t take it seriously. The state agency goes through the form to see if you have problems bathing yourself, driving, taking care of kids, or doing house work. It is important that you consider what you are going to put on it and be consistent. If you say you don’t have trouble on the report but get to the hearing and say you do have problems the judge will rule an unfavorable decision because they would have already read the report.
When the client comes in to our office and we see that they did a sloppy job completing the repot and did not list in detail the problems they have how do you address that with the client or remedy that in court? One thing you can do is make sure the testimony fully discloses the client’s problem. Also the report may have been filled out four years before the hearing and your conditions may have gotten worse. Sometimes we can explain the function report in the client favor.
Sometimes people exaggerate how bad their conditions are and that impacts their credibility before the judge. Make sure to be truthful on the reports and give as much detail as possible but do not lie.