How to Answer “How Well Do You Get Along with Authority Figures?” on SSA Form 3373 (Function Report)
INTRODUCTION
Most people pause when they reach Question 20(h) on Form SSA-3373-BK:
“How well do you get along with authority figures? (For example, police, bosses, landlords or teachers.)”
It looks simple, but this Section D question about abilities is an important social-functioning question on the form. SSA uses it to understand how your medical conditions affect your ability to interact with people in charge, especially in work-like settings.
This guide gives you a clear, practical way to answer this question accurately, confidently, and consistently—without raising examiner concerns.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every claim is unique.
Why SSA Asks This Question about authority
This question helps SSA evaluate your mental and social functioning, especially two areas from the mental health rules (“Paragraph B” criteria):
Interacting with others
Adapting or managing oneself
Difficulty dealing with authority figures can mean problems with:
Accepting supervision and feedback
Understanding and following rules or instructions
Handling stress when corrected or monitored
Regulating emotions in conflict or stressful situations
Maintaining work-appropriate behavior and boundaries
SSA uses your answer, along with your medical records, to build your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)—a written description of what you can still do in a workplace. If your condition causes serious problems with authority, your RFC may include limits such as:
Only occasional contact with supervisors
Superficial interaction with supervisors and coworkers
No high-stress, fast-paced, or conflict-heavy environments
How to Think About Your authority Answer on the function report
Instead of answering “fine,” “good,” or “it depends,” focus on how your symptoms show up when you deal with people in charge.
Think about:
Who counts as authority figures for you?
Supervisors, managers, landlords, police, school staff, HR, doctors, caseworkers, probation officers, etc.
What usually happens in those interactions?
Do you get anxious, confused, angry, shut down, or overly talkative?
What changed after your condition started or got worse?
Could you handle these interactions better in the past?
How often does this happen?
Daily? Weekly? Only in high-stress situations?
What are the consequences?
Misunderstandings, write-ups at work, lease problems, avoiding appointments, needing someone else to speak for you, or panic attacks.
Use clear time anchors:
“Since around March 2022…”
“This happens about 3–4 times a week…”
“On bad days, I avoid calls or messages from my landlord or doctor completely…”
The goal is to describe a real pattern over time, not just one story.
Conditions That Can Affect How You Respond to Authority Figures
Many different conditions can change how you react to people in charge. SSA evaluates these under the Blue Book (Adult Listings, Part A). You can look up your diagnosis in the Blue Book to see which section it falls under.
Common conditions that may affect your ability to get along with authority figures include, for example:
Depressive disorders (trouble with motivation, low energy, negative thinking)
Anxiety disorders and panic disorder (fear, worry, physical panic symptoms around authority)
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (mistrust, feeling threatened, flashbacks when confronted)
Bipolar disorder (mood swings, irritability, impulsive speech or behavior)
Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders (paranoia, misinterpreting others’ intentions)
Autism spectrum disorder (difficulty reading tone or social rules, sensory overload)
ADHD (impulsivity, blurting, difficulty following complex instructions)
Neurocognitive disorders or brain injuries (memory, judgment, and processing problems)
Chronic pain, fibromyalgia, or fatigue-related conditions (irritability, low frustration tolerance when in pain)
Each of these can change how safe, calm, and in control you feel when someone is supervising you, correcting you, or enforcing rules.
When you answer Question 20(h), it can help to think about both your diagnosis and the specific symptoms that show up with authority figures (for example, “paranoia,” “panic attacks,” “racing thoughts,” “shutdown,” or “verbal outbursts”).
How Medications Can Affect Your Reactions to Authority
For many people, medications and their side effects play a big role in how they respond to authority figures.
Common medication-related issues include:
Slowed thinking or mental fog – you may seem unresponsive or confused when spoken to
Sedation and fatigue – you may appear uninterested, irritable, or unable to follow along
Agitation or restlessness – you may pace, interrupt, or speak sharply without meaning to
Mood swings or emotional “blunting” – you may overreact or underreact to correction
Dizziness or feeling “out of it” – you may miss parts of instructions or misunderstand what is being asked
These side effects can come from medications like:
Antidepressants (for example, SSRIs or SNRIs)
Anti-anxiety medications (such as benzodiazepines)
Antipsychotics
Mood stabilizers
Seizure or nerve pain medications
Sleep medications
Opioid pain medications
You do not need to list every drug, but it helps to:
Name the type of medication (for example, “antidepressant,” “antipsychotic,” or “nerve pain medication”).
Describe the side effects that matter for authority figures (for example, “I get very groggy,” “I slur my words,” “I feel restless and can’t sit still,” or “I snap at people more easily”).
Connect side effects to specific situations with bosses, landlords, or other authority figures.
Example (educational, edit to fit your real experience):
“Because of my antidepressant and nerve pain medication, I often feel slow, groggy, and foggy-headed. Since 2023, I sometimes stare or ask people to repeat themselves several times. Supervisors have thought I was ignoring them or being disrespectful, when I was actually trying to process what they said.”
If your medication was changed because of severe side effects (like agitation, rage, or extreme sedation), that can be important context to mention briefly.
Examples and Variations of Limitations (Mild, Moderate, Severe)
These are generalized examples to help you think about your own answer. Do not copy them word-for-word—adjust them so they match your real lived experience.
Mild Limitation (symptoms noticeable but manageable)
“Generally, I get along with authority figures, but since my anxiety worsened in 2022, I become very nervous when corrected. I may talk too fast or over-explain. I sometimes misread tone as criticism and need instructions repeated, but I usually recover and can finish what I need to do.”
Moderate Limitation (symptoms cause repeated problems)
“Since 2021, I’ve had frequent trouble dealing with supervisors and landlords. When someone in authority raises their voice or corrects me, I feel panicky and shut down. I avoid phone calls and emails, and I’ve missed important deadlines. There have been misunderstandings where they thought I was ignoring them, but really I was overwhelmed and couldn’t respond.”
Marked/Severe Limitation (symptoms significantly interfere with functioning)
“Because of PTSD and paranoia, I have great difficulty dealing with authority figures. Since late 2019, I often feel threatened or in danger when corrected or questioned by supervisors, landlords, or police. I may cry, freeze, or become verbally defensive. Family members now handle most communication for me. These symptoms are a big part of why I haven’t been able to keep a job.”
If your difficulty comes from cognitive problems, psychosis, chronic pain, or medication side effects, say that clearly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some mistakes that can cause confusion or extra questions from DDS examiners:
Being too vague: writing only “fine” or “no problems” when you do have symptoms
Only telling one story: not explaining the ongoing pattern behind it
Blaming others instead of describing symptoms: focusing on who was “right” instead of how your condition affected your behavior
Contradicting other parts of the form: saying “I get along fine” here, but describing frequent arguments or avoidance in other questions
Forgetting to mention your conditions or medications: not tying the trouble with authority back to your medical issues
Try to describe what you experience, not who is at fault.
How SSA Uses Your Answer in the RFC
SSA does not approve or deny your SSDI claim based on this one question alone, but your answer helps shape your mental RFC, including whether you can:
Respond appropriately to supervision
Accept normal work-related criticism
Interact with coworkers and the public
Handle routine job stress
Adapt to changes in routine and expectations
If SSA finds that your symptoms cause serious problems with supervision or authority figures, they may limit you to work with:
Only occasional, brief contact with supervisors
No intense customer service or high-conflict roles
A stable, low-stress routine with limited changes
In more severe cases, SSA may determine that you cannot reliably meet the basic mental demands of competitive work, even in simple jobs, because of your difficulty responding to supervision and authority.
When to Use the Remarks Section (Section B)
Use the Remarks section if:
Your symptoms are very different on good days vs. bad days
You interact differently with different kinds of authority (for example, you can handle doctors but not supervisors)
You rely on someone else (family, friend, caseworker) to handle most authority-related communication
There have been serious consequences (evictions, arrests, job terminations) tied to your symptoms
Example remark (educational only):
“Since 2022, I avoid calls and meetings with landlords and supervisors because of panic. When I try to speak, I shake, cry, or freeze and can’t get my words out. My sister now handles most communication, including with my landlord and doctor’s office, because I cannot manage these conversations alone.”
Keep remarks short, specific, and focused on how your condition affects functioning.
Expert Perspective: How Decision-Makers Look at This Answer
From an Examiner’s Point of View
DDS Examiners typically look for:
A clear pattern tied to the person’s diagnoses
Consistency with mental health notes, medications, and work history
Whether the described level of limitation matches the overall record
They may have concerns, for example, when:
Someone reports very severe problems but there is no mental health treatment or related evidence anywhere in the file
Someone reports “no issues” with authority, but the records show repeated conflicts, write-ups, or legal incidents
From an Attorney or Advocate’s Point of View
Attorneys and advocates generally focus on whether the person’s description:
Fits into a coherent story about why work is difficult or not sustainable
Makes it clear how often symptoms occur and how long they have been present
Lines up with the SSA mental functioning areas (like interacting with others, or adapting and managing oneself)
From an ALJ (Judge)’s Point of View
At a hearing, judges often compare the written function report to:
The person’s testimony
Medical expert or psychological opinions, if any
Past jobs and how those jobs ended
In many decisions, judges have found explanations more convincing when they:
Describe changes over time (for example, explaining that problems with authority began or worsened after the onset of a condition)
Match the level of difficulty described with what appears in the medical and work records, instead of relying only on extreme examples
Key Takeaways
SSA uses this question to see how your health affects the way you deal with people in charge, like bosses, landlords, or others who give rules or instructions.
Many people find it helpful to talk about patterns over time—how often problems happen, what usually sets them off, and what tends to happen afterward.
Answers are often clearer when they are linked to medical issues, such as your diagnoses, symptoms, and any important medication side effects, instead of only saying “I don’t get along with authority.”
A few short, real-life examples can help show what your day-to-day contact with authority figures is like, while still keeping your answer brief and respectful.
Some people use the Remarks section to add a little more detail about big differences between good and bad days or to explain more complicated situations with authority figures.
🔗 Related Questions on the Function Report
You can review related questions on Form 3373 in the following guides:
How to answer questions about following spoken instructions
How to answer questions about handling changes in routine
How to answer questions about following written instructions
How to answer questions about how long you can pay attention
Curious about more function report questions? Take a look at our example answers for Form 3373 based on esophageal cancer conditions.
Q. What exactly is SSA trying to learn from this function report question about authority figures?
A. In general, SSA uses this question to understand whether a person’s medical conditions affect how they handle supervision and rules in everyday life. The focus is on work-like situations: accepting feedback, following instructions, and managing stress around people in charge, not on judging anyone’s personality.
Q. What if I haven’t had a boss, landlord, or teacher recently? How do I answer the authority question on Form 3373?
A. Many people in that situation describe how they interact with other authority figures, such as doctors, caseworkers, probation officers, housing workers, or family members who manage benefits. It can be helpful to explain how you typically react when someone in charge gives directions, corrects you, or enforces rules, and to note that you have limited recent work or housing experience.
Q. I get along with some authority figures but not others. How can I explain that on the SSDI function report?
A. It is usually fine to describe differences. For example, some people report that they do better with calm, patient authority figures (such as a long-term doctor) but have more difficulty with fast-paced or loud supervisors. Briefly explaining which situations are harder and what tends to trigger symptoms (for example, raised voices, rushed instructions, or sudden changes) can make your answer clearer.
Q. Should I mention past write-ups, terminations, or evictions that seem related to my condition?
A. Some people choose to mention major events that help show how their medical symptoms affected real-world situations, including relationships with authority figures. When they do, they often keep it factual: what happened, when it started, and how symptoms such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, pain, or cognitive problems played a role. The emphasis is usually on describing the symptoms and behavior rather than arguing who was right or wrong.
Q. What if my problems with authority only started after I got sick or injured?
A. Many people find it useful to explain how things changed over time. For example, someone might describe that before a head injury or the onset of a mental health condition, they had no trouble with supervisors, but afterward they became more confused, irritable, or easily overwhelmed when corrected. That kind of “before and after” description can help show that the difficulty is connected to the medical condition.
Q. I’m worried that being honest will make me look like a “problem person.” Should I downplay things?
A. SSA generally expects applicants to give accurate information about their limitations. If someone downplays significant problems, their form may be harder to reconcile with medical records, mental health notes, or work history. Many people try to describe their symptoms and their effects in a calm, respectful tone, focusing on what happens and how often, rather than on blaming specific individuals.
Q. How can I include the effect of medications in this answer without oversharing?
A. One approach some people use is to mention the type of medication (for example, “antidepressant,” “antipsychotic,” or “nerve pain medicine”) and then briefly describe side effects that matter in interactions with authority figures. For instance, they might say that the medicine makes them very tired, slow to respond, restless, or more irritable, and that this sometimes leads supervisors or other authority figures to misunderstand their behavior.
Q. Is it okay to mention police or legal situations here?
A. Some people choose to include a short reference to police or legal involvement when their medical symptoms clearly contributed—for example, panic, confusion, psychosis, or other documented issues. When they do, they typically keep the description brief, factual, and focused on how their condition influenced their behavior, rather than going into full legal details.
Q. Do my answers on this form have to match exactly what I say at a hearing later?
A. People’s wording often changes over time, but decision-makers may look for a generally consistent description of symptoms and limitations across forms, medical records, and any hearing testimony. It can be helpful if the same types of difficulties you mention on the form are also the ones you talk about with your health-care providers and, if applicable, with a judge.
Q. What if I truly have no problems with authority figures? Will that automatically hurt my case?
A. Some disability claims are based mainly on physical limitations, pain, fatigue, or concentration problems rather than social difficulties. In those situations, applicants sometimes explain that authority figures are not an area where they experience significant problems, while their limitations show up in other areas. SSA generally considers the overall picture of a person’s functioning, not just one question.
References
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Disability evaluation under Social Security: Adult listings (Blue Book). Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Form SSA-3373-BK: Function report – Adult (SSA-3373-BK). (Rev. 06-2023). Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3373-bk.pdf
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). 12.00 Mental disorders – Adult. Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a: Evaluation of mental impairments. Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1520a.htm
Social Security Administration. (2024, June 21). POMS DI 25020.010: Mental limitations. Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0425020010
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). POMS DI 24510.000: Residual functional capacity (RFC). Retrieved December 5, 2025, from https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0424510000
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns or questions. Consult with a licensed attorney for legal advice.
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