DAILY ACTIVITIES CAN HURT YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM

HOW YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES IS IMPORTANT

Some of the most important evidence in your case is your own description of how your medical conditions affect your daily life. SSA asks you to fill out multiple daily activities forms. They do this because they want to understand how your symptoms affect your ability to function. On the surface, those questions seem easy to answer. If you prepare meals, drive a car, or shop for groceries, then you simply report that information on the SSA forms.

Unfortunately, the process is not that simple.

Many people damage their claim by writing about everyday activities, but failing to explain how they no longer do them. Or, they fail to state that they need help to perform activities like grocery shopping. As a result, SSA may interpret routine tasks as evidence that a person can perform work related activities on a daily and weekly basis. What begins as an honest attempt to answer questions can become a huge obstacle to winning SSD benefits.

The problem is that daily activities are often taken out of context by the SSA. You may perform a task occasionally, with assistance, or only after significant physical or mental effort. However, if those details never make it onto SSA’s forms, then the SSA may use your own statements to deny your claim.

Understanding how SSA evaluates daily activities can help you avoid one of the most common mistakes in the review process. Most importantly, it can help ensure that your daily activity forms present a complete picture of the challenges you face every day.

WHY SSA CARES ABOUT YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES

Many people who file for SSD benefits are surprised by the amount of attention SSA gives to daily activities. The agency does not ask these questions out of curiosity. Instead, the SSA uses this information to determine whether your statements are consistent with being unable to work.

When SSA reviews your forms, they are looking for clues about how you function. Physically, they want to know what you can lift. They also want to know how long you can sit, stand and walk at one time and throughout the course of an eight hour work day. Mentally, they want to know if you can concentrate or if you have memory problems. They also want to know if you can finish tasks and interact with other people.

For example, if you report that you cook meals, drive, shop, manage finances, and perform household chores, then the SSA sees those activities as evidence that you can work. In short, if you can do all of those things at home, then you can sit in a chair and work. Other people are reporting they cannot do those activities. So, your ability to function is better than others who are filing for the same benefits.

Most people continue performing some daily activities, even when they are struggling with an illness. Life does not stop because a person develops heart disease, or another severe medical condition. People still need food, transportation, and basic necessities. Many continue performing tasks because they have no alternative.

When you fill out SSA’s forms, be complete. Explain things. You don’t want SSA to fill in the blanks for you, because it won’t be in your favor.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERFORMING AN ACTIVITY AND WORKING FULL TIME

There is a big difference between performing an activity and working full time. Unfortunately, this distinction is frequently ignored during the five step SSA evaluation process.

A person may be able to perform a task once. They may even be able to perform it several times each week. However, employment requires something very different. Work generally requires consistent attendance, good concentration, productivity throughout the day, and the ability to meet employer expectations on a regular basis.

Consider a person with severe back pain who spends fifteen minutes washing dishes. That activity may be possible. However, it may also result in increased pain that requires several hours of rest afterward. The ability to complete a brief household chore does not necessarily mean the person can stand, sit, or move throughout an eight hour workday.

The same principle applies to mental health conditions. A person with severe anxiety may be able to attend a medical appointment. That does not mean they can consistently interact with supervisors, other workers, and the public forty hours each week. A person with depression may occasionally visit family members. That does not mean they can maintain the pace required in a competitive work environment.

Daily activities often occur under very different circumstances than employment. They are usually performed at your own pace and while taking breaks. Also, you can do daily activities with flexibility and the ability to stop when symptoms worsen. Employers generally do not offer those same conditions.

This is why context matters so much when filling out SSA’s daily activities forms.

THE PROBLEM WITH SHORT ANSWERS ON THE DAILY ACTIVITIES FORM

Many disability forms provide only a limited amount of space for responses. As a result, many people often provide brief answers that fail to communicate the full extent of their limitations.

This creates problems because the SSA may interpret those answers against you.

Imagine that SSA asks whether you prepare meals. You answer yes. The answer is true, but it leaves out important details. Maybe you prepare only simple microwave meals. If so, then write that you can no longer cook a meal because you can’t stand. Instead, you use the microwave.

There are many people who must sit while preparing food because standing increases their pain. They could write that they can’t stand to cook, so they must sit or they must have another family member cook for them. If fatigue or pain limits your ability to cook, then explain it. Without those details, the SSA sees only the activity itself.

The same issue arises when you report shopping, driving, cleaning, caring for pets, paying bills, going to church, or doing your hobbies. A short answer may accurately describe what occurs, but it often fails to explain how difficult the activity is to perform.

When your daily activities forms lack context, they can create a picture of your abilities that is far from reality.

THE PROBLEM WITH LONG ANSWERS ON THE DAILY ACTIVITIES FORM

Short answers on the daily activities form are not helpful. However, answers that are too long can create problems as well. There is a difference between giving helpful details and writing down too much information. If you find yourself adding pages to the form, then your answers are too long.

Many people write lengthy explanations about doing chores, hobbies, and volunteer activities. These descriptions can give SSA a collection of activities to use against you. For example, many people write about doing household chores:  laundry, cleaning, shopping, or caring for pets emphasizes how much you do. If you can do all of those tasks, then the SSA will find you can work.

Another concern involves information that has little to do with your ability to work. Some people write stories about holiday celebrations or trips. While these activities occur rarely, they stand out during the SSA’s review. For example, you might write about a two day road trip. The SSA focuses on the fact you were healthy enough to take the trip. They don’t care that it hurt or you had to lay down in the car.

This does not mean you should avoid detailed answers. The key is making sure your answers focus on your limitations rather than doing the activity itself. Every answer should help the SSA understand how your medical condition affects your ability to function. If a detail does not contribute to that goal, then leave it out.

The purpose of the Daily Activities Form is not to show how much you accomplish during the day. Instead, it is to help the SSA understand why your medical condition prevents you from working. The most effective answers show that your daily activities prevent consistent employment.

WHEN HOUSEHOLD CHORES CREATE THE WRONG IMPRESSION

Household chores frequently become a source of misunderstanding in SSD claims. Many people continue performing at least some chores because they live alone, care for family members, or simply have no one else available to help.

SSA often views doing household chores as evidence of the ability to work. However, what matters is not merely whether the chore occurs. What matters is how the chore is performed and what limitations accompany it.

You may report that you do laundry. What that statement does not reveal is that the laundry takes several days to complete because of pain and fatigue. Additionally, you may carry only small loads and require frequent breaks. If you fail to explain that then the SSA thinks you can carry a full basket of laundry up and down stairs. Also, if you do laundry, then you may spend the rest of the day lying down after the task is finished. If so, write that down.

Similarly, you may report that you vacuum your house. In reality, you may vacuum one room at a time and need substantial recovery afterward. Additionally, you may experience increased pain or fatigue. But, none of those details are apparent unless you explain them.

The people who work for the SSA are not mind readers. They evaluate the information that you give to them. If you report on your daily activities form that you do household chores, then the SSA will assume you can do those chores without significant difficulty.

That assumption can damage your SSD claim.

WHY GROCERY SHOPPING CAN BECOME A PROBLEM 

Grocery shopping is another activity that frequently appears in disability decisions. Many people report shopping because they occasionally purchase food and household items. The problem is that shopping can mean very different things depending on the circumstances.

One person may spend several hours walking through stores, viewing different products, and carrying heavy bags. Another person may shop for ten minutes and use a scooter cart. Additionally, you may need assistance from a family member to pick up heavy items, like soda or a gallon of milk. You may also return home completely exhausted.

Yet both people may simply report that they shop for groceries.

SSA may interpret shopping as evidence of physical ability to walk and carry items. They may also use it to prove that you can concentrate, make decisions, and function socially. While those factors can be important, they do not tell the whole story.

Many people structure shopping trips around their limitations. For example, they may shop during less crowded hours, like early morning, because of anxiety. Or, they may rely need help from family members. Additionally, you may only be able to shop for 15 minutes and then need extended recovery time after returning home. If so, then you must write that down on the daily activities form. Otherwise, shopping can create an impression about your functional capacity that is not true.

HOW THE SSA CAN USE DRIVING AGAINST YOU

Many people continue driving because they need transportation for medical appointments and errands. However, driving often receives significant attention during SSA’s evaluation of your case.

From the SSA’s perspective, driving may suggest that you can concentrate, make decisions, and follow directions. It also indicates that you can respond to changing circumstances. Of course, the SSA often ignores important limitations.

For example, some people only drive only short distances. Others avoid driving at night or in heavy traffic. Certain medical conditions make long trips impossible. Some medications cause side effects that limit driving. Visual disorders limit driving. Other conditions, like a stroke or anxiety, may restrict driving.

A simple statement that you drive may not communicate your limitations.

Driving occasionally does not necessarily demonstrate an ability to sustain competitive employment. Nevertheless, SSA forms that fail to provide context may leave the SSA without an understanding of your situation.

THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF MENTAL HEALTH CLAIMS

Mental health claims often present unique difficulties when the SSA evaluates your daily activities. Unlike physical conditions, mental health symptoms are not always visible. As a result, the SSA frequently relies on your report about your daily activities to assess your ability to work.

This can create problems because many people with mental health conditions participate in activities despite their symptoms. During the day, for instance, you might have trouble watching TV, because you can’t concentrate. You may have memory problems or crying spells. Or, you might have panic attacks and fear leaving the house. Write down how this prevents you from shopping or going to church.

If you have severe depression, then visiting family members can cause emotional problems. You may have anxiety when you attend church and are around large groups of people. Additionally, you may experience panic symptoms before, during, and after events. If you have PTSD, then you may leave home only when absolutely necessary. Without context, these activities may appear impossible to do with your alleged symptoms.

Mental health conditions often involve tremendous effort that is not visible to others. Activities that appear routine on the surface may require extensive preparation, support, and recovery. Disability forms should explain these realities whenever possible.

The goal is to provide an accurate description of how your severe symptoms affect your ability to function on a daily basis.

WRITE ABOUT BAD DAYS, NOT GOOD DAYS

Many medical conditions change over time. Symptoms might improve for a short time and then worsen again. Some people experience occasional good days. Those good days may be mixed with many difficult or bad days.

This becomes a problem when SSA’s forms focus too heavily on activities performed during periods of improvement.

For example, you may attend a family gathering once every few months. Likewise, you may complete a household chore on a particularly good day. Or, you may run several errands during a period when your symptoms are less severe.

If those activities are reported without explanation, then the SSA may believe they reflect your typical level of function. Don’t let that happen.

SSDI and SSI claims are not based on your best day. They are based on your overall ability to sustain work activity on a regular basis. For this reason, it is important to describe how frequently activities occur and whether they represent exceptions rather than the norm. Do not focus on your best day. Also, do not say you are fine.

You are writing about facts that support your SSD case. Therefore, do not focus on a productive day when you answer the SSA’s questions. Focus on the bad day, because it tells the real story of why you can’t work.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPLAINING RECOVERY TIME

One of the most important aspects of the daily activities form is recovery time. Many people describe their activities, but they forget to explain what happens afterward. Most people with severe medical conditions require recovery time for every activity they do.

Recovery time can be extremely important because it provides insight into how a medical condition affects impacts your functional capacity.

You may be able to attend a treating doctor appointment. However, after the appointment, you may spend the rest of the day in bed. Likewise, you may shop for groceries but experience severe fatigue afterward. Write about that. Someone with chronic pain may complete a simple household chore only to spend hours resting.

There are consequences to doing chores and activities. The SSA cannot evaluate recovery time if it you never mention it. Therefore, you should consider not only what you can do but also what those activities cost physically and mentally.

BE READY TO COMPLETE DAILY ACTIVITIES FORMS WHEN YOU FILE FOR SSD BENEFITS 

Qualifying for SSD benefits means you have a severe medical condition that prevents you from working at any job in the national economy. The symptoms of your medical condition must be so severe that they prevent you from working for over one year. There are two types of Social Security benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

You can file an application on Social Security’s website for either one or both. Below, you can find an explanation as to each type of benefit for which you can file:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):  

SSDI benefits are for those who can no longer work due to a severe medical condition like breast cancer. The amount of money you receive from SSDI benefits is based on the taxes you paid during your working years. To qualify for SSDI, you must have enough work credits.

A work credit is an amount of taxable income. You can earn up to 4 work credits or 4 quarters of coverage in one year. The amount of work credits you need depends on how old you are when you apply. If you haven’t earned enough work credits at the time you apply, then you will only be able to file for SSI benefits.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):  

SSI is a needs based benefit. It is for only those people with little to no income, such as children and the elderly. Anyone who has a large amount of money cannot receive SSI benefits. The SSA counts the income of those who live with you, such as your spouse, not just your income and assets.

If you have a spouse who earns $5000 a month, then that income will prevent you from getting SSI benefits. The same rule applies if you are living with a boyfriend and he is paying your bills. Also, the same rule applies if you are living with your common law wife and she is paying your bills. You cannot get SSI benefits, no matter how severe your medical condition, if you do not meet the income and asset rules for SSI.

HOW TO DESCRIBE DAILY ACTIVITIES CORRECTLY

The best approach to filling out SSA’s forms is to make sure that you explain the context. Avoid writing about your daily activities in a way that suggests you are not having any problems doing them. The worst thing you can do is say you are “fine,” when you are not.

When you write about your daily activities explain any assistance you receive. Discuss how often you take breaks. Discuss your limitations in lifting, sitting and standing. Explain whether your symptoms worsen during or after activity. If recovery time is necessary, then include that information as well.

The focus should not be solely on the activity itself. Instead, the focus should be on how your medical condition affects your ability to perform that activity.

This approach provides SSA with a clearer understanding of your limitations and helps prevent misunderstandings that could negatively affect your claim.

Cooking a simple meal does not mean you can maintain full time employment. Shopping for groceries does not automatically demonstrate the ability to work. Attending church, visiting family members, or driving to appointments does not prove that you can work. But the SSA will try to use those activities to prove that you can work.

That is why key is context. The SSA needs to understand what you do, but also how you do it. They also need to know how often you do it and what consequences follow. When your forms provide that complete picture, they become a better reflection of being unable to work.

Small details can make a difference in winning your SSDI and SSI benefits. Taking the time to fully explain your daily activities may strengthen the overall presentation of your SSD claim.

WE OFFER A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR SSD BENEFITS 

We offer a free review of your SSDI and SSI benefits. What that means is that you can call us and explain your case. At that point, we will look at the merits of your case for free. Then, we will let you know if you have a chance to win benefits. We do not charge you for our review of your case.

In the past 30 years, we have won over $100 million in SSDI and SSI benefits for our clients. We are experts at what we do and we will put our knowledge to work for you. Hire us to be your Social Security legal team.

We help clients win benefits in many states, including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and California. Use the list from your state to apply for benefits:

• California SSDI and SSI benefits
• Colorado SSDI and SSI benefit information
• Idaho SSDI and SSI benefits
• Nevada SSDI and SSI benefits
• Utah SSDI and SSI benefits

No matter where you live, we want to be your legal team. Hire the best Social Security legal team with no money down. Also, there is no attorney fee for you to pay unless we win your case. We will do our best to help you win SSDI and SSI benefits. We know that not being able to work and using your savings creates stress. Therefore, we will also due our best to win your benefits as quickly we can. If you need help filling out your daily activities form, then give us a call. Contact us.

HIRE OUR SSD LAW FIRM HELPS YOU WIN BENEFITS

If you’re struggling with a severe medical condition and can’t work, then first, file your SSD application. Next, you will need to complete the forms the SSA sends you. For example, you will need to fill out the daily activities form and the work history form. Many people need help to fill out SSA’s forms. Your lawyer can help you with this and give you tips to complete the forms in your favor.

Therefore, hire legal team. We can help you explain how difficult it is to perform your daily activities because of your medical conditions. Whether you are just starting your application or need to appeal a denial, we can also help. You don’t pay us unless you win SSD benefits, so there’s no risk in calling us.

Living with chronic pain and being unable to work is hard enough. You don’t have to fight the SSA alone. We can help you secure the benefits you need to move forward with your life. We are the best SSD law firm you can hire. Our team has won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases and we can help you too.

Our experienced legal team is ready to fight for your Social Security benefits. We’ve helped thousands of clients obtain the financial support they need. Call us today to discuss your SSD benefits. Put our legal experience to work for you. We will help you every step of the way.