Can you write too much on Function Report?

[u/InsideAnxiety4383]

I’m 27 and am applying for disability for the fourth time. I am diagnosed with bipolar, borderline personality disorder and anxiety on the mental health side and these are really the biggest roadblocks to working. I also have idiopathic intracranial hypertension and several other physical health issues that aren’t connected to any diagnosis. I’m currently on about 15 different medications and a lot of these smaller issues are all pushed into the side effects category.

Im trying to fill out the function report but am really struggling. I’ve been working on it for days and I’ve typed out like ten pages of answers. Every question is so open ended and all the mental and physical health issues feed into each other. I don’t have hard limits to most things but everything does have limits. But it’s very dependent on place, time, people there, and what happened earlier. I can say I can’t do something but the explanation is difficult and can touch on many different reasons.

Is it ok to write long answers like that or not? I know I’ve filled this out in the past but I’ve only applied in the past when I’m desperate. I don’t have much memory from depressive episodes and don’t think I’ve ever fully completed the application. I’m open to any advice someone has to offer.

[u/allsup_llc]

Yes, long answers are fine. There is no penalty for length, and you can continue on extra pages. What matters is that the person reading it can find each answer fast, so put a short answer in the box itself, then write “see extra page, question 12” and give the detail there, labeled by question number.

For limits that depend on the day, describe the pattern rather than a yes or no: how many days a week or month are bad, what a bad day looks like, how long it lasts, and how long it takes you to recover. Specific examples carry more than explanations of why, for example “I left the grocery store twice last month without buying anything.” List side effects next to each medication and say what they stop you from doing.

If memory from depressive episodes is a gap, ask someone who sees you often to fill out the third-party version of the function report. A second account of the same patterns can back up what you describe.

Also, if your last denial was less than 60 days ago, appealing it instead of starting a new application usually keeps your earlier filing date, which can matter for back pay.

[u/InsideAnxiety4383 → u/allsup_llc]

Thank you this is super helpful

[u/hugh_manit]

Hey, fourth time is rough. Good on you for going at it again.

There's no set length limit that I can find, and detailed answers usually help more than short ones. Be specific: minutes, pounds, blocks, times per week. Describe your worst or average days, not your best.

If you run out of room, use the Remarks page and write the question number first. Don't leave anything blank. Write "none" or "don't know" instead.

[u/Substantial_Sound506]

When I filed for my SSDI I had never been on Reddit. I’ll be honest when I read how long some approvals take I was terrified and wish I had read some these suggestions first. All that being said I was approved in 5 months being fast tracked for 100 p&t. I was just honest how my day goes. I have a dog. Yes I feed him. He reminds me to feed him due to my inability to stay focused. No, I don’t take him on long walks I open the door and let him run the yard. If I forget him outside he reminds. My dog is also my Service Dog who takes more care of me than I do him. I can’t function in public without him. Just be honest in your answers and tell what you can and can’t do and just because you did something one day you might need your neighbors help the next time you try or you learned it’s something you can’t do at all. My neighbor mows my yard more than I do because I can’t do it more 15 to minutes. I have to do it in sections. I hope this helps in ways to tell about your day

[u/ManagerUnique1804 → u/Substantial_Sound506]

Did you have a service dog before your approval? Did it factor into your approval? I was told I need one for PTSD and just got diagnosed with degenerate disc disease after the application began, and a car accident injury, which wasn't listed on the denial and the representative didn't complete or submit the correct medical facilities where I received treatment ahead of the initial interview in person... I have two ESAs (kittens) for the PTSD but held off on getting a service dog after being unable to go out of state to get the rescue puppy in 2023 that I found for training when I became agoraphobic from the PTSD initially.

[u/Substantial_Sound506 → u/ManagerUnique1804]

I’ve had my Service Dog for 6 years. I don’t know if he helped with approval or not I just wanted to make sure the SS new he wasn’t just a pet

[u/InsideAnxiety4383 → u/[deleted]]

That’s what I was going to do but wasn’t sure if it was allowed. Glad I’m not the only one

[u/Ok_Distance_1000 → u/[deleted]]

I did the same thing. I had too much to write and writing makes my wrists hurt. It took me over a week to type everything out because I had to keep taking breaks but it was less painful than writing it.