How to Answer “How Well Do You Follow Written Instructions?” on the SSA Function Report for SSDI
A Friendly Guide to Understanding This SHORT but Important Question on Form SSA-3373:
Question 20(f) - the SSDI Function report
Some questions on the Adult Function Report feel tiny, but they tell Social Security a lot about how your health affects your everyday life. Question 20(f) — “How well do you follow written instructions?” — is one of those questions that looks simple but is hard to answer and carries more meaning than most people expect.
On Form SSA-3373-BK (Function Report – Adult), you’ll see:
“How well do you follow written instructions? (For example, a recipe.)”
(SSA provides only two short lines for your answer.)
Even with such limited space, this question helps SSA understand how your medical conditions affect things like reading, focus, memory, and following steps — skills that show up in daily life and many kinds of work. This guide explains what SSA uses this question for, what they pay attention to, and how people often think about their own two-line response.
Why SSA Asks About Written Instructions
SSA uses Question 20(f) to understand how well you can take in, remember, and follow written information. DDS examiners look at both mental and physical aspects of functioning that may influence how someone processes written directions. These categories come from different parts of the federal regulations, and together they help SSA understand the full picture of how symptoms affect day-to-day activities.
To make this clearer, here is how the two functional areas relate to SSA’s rules:
Understanding, remembering, or applying information
(Evaluation of Mental Impairments is listed in the Consolidated Code of Federal Regulations 20 C.F.R. §404.1520a.)
This mental-function category helps SSA assess whether symptoms such as brain fog, depression, anxiety, cognitive changes, or medication side effects interfere with tasks like reading mail, keeping track of written steps, or understanding forms.
Physical abilities and stamina
(Evaluation of Physical Residual Functional Capacity is outlined in 20 C.F.R. §404.1545.)
Physical conditions can also influence how someone manages written information. Chronic pain may limit how long a person can sit and focus, spinal or joint disorders may make it uncomfortable to stay in one position long enough to read carefully, and fatigue or shortness of breath may make multi-step written tasks harder to keep up with. Under §404.1545, SSA considers how physical factors like limited stamina, restricted movement, or pain affect a person's ability to perform work-related tasks, including those involving written instructions.
Written instructions appear everywhere:
appointment slips
medication labels
letters from SSA or doctors
forms and questionnaires
step-by-step directions
Where This Question Appears on the SSA-3373 Form
You’ll find Question 20(f) in the section on Understanding and Following Instructions on Form SSA-3373-BK.
Around it, SSA asks about:
How long you can pay attention (Question 20(d))
Whether you finish what you start (Question 20(e))
How well you follow spoken instructions (Question 20(g))
Whether you’ve had problems getting along at work (Question 20(i))
Together, these questions help SSA understand your abilities in the mental‑function areas they consider for RFC (Residual Functional Capacity), especially:
Understanding, remembering, or applying information
Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace
This grouping is meaningful because it shows the examiner how your symptoms affect not just reading, but also focusing, carrying out tasks, and interacting in everyday and work‑related settings.
What SSA Is Really Trying to Learn
SSA is not judging your schooling or how well you write. They’re trying to understand:
1. Can you understand basic written information?
Like short notes, reminders, or simple directions. This helps SSA understand whether written tasks at work — even very simple ones — might require extra time, support, or repetition.
2. Do longer written instructions become difficult?
Many people can handle short notes but lose track when the instructions are longer, detailed, or written in dense language. SSA considers this because many jobs rely on multi-step written procedures, policies, or checklists that may be harder to manage if symptoms interfere.
3. Do symptoms interfere with reading or remembering written steps?
This can include pain, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, anxiety, distraction, or vision issues. Understanding how symptoms impact written tasks helps SSA see whether someone may struggle with work tasks that require focus, accuracy, or consistent attention to written detail.
4. Do you rely on tools or help?
Some people use phone reminders, highlighters, larger print, technology, or ask someone to read or explain mail. SSA looks at these supports to understand whether similar accommodations would be needed in a work environment and whether such accommodations are typically available in competitive employment.
These factors help SSA understand how your health affects real-world tasks — not just medical appointments, but daily living and potential work activities.
Thinking About Your Own Two-Line Answer
Step-by-Step: How People Commonly Think Through Their Two-Line Answer
These points come from everyday patterns claimants often describe. They are not instructions on what you should write (your answers should be based on your own experience), but they may help you think about your own experience and keep your explanation clear, brief, and realistic.
1. Simple vs. Complex Written Instructions
Most people do better with short, simple written notes than with long, detailed ones. You might think about:
short notes like “Take pill at 8 a.m.”
a quick text or reminder with one or two steps
a short grocery list
Compared with:
long letters from SSA or insurance
multi‑page forms in small print
step‑heavy policies or work orders
detailed recipes with timing steps
It’s normal if your abilities change depending on the length and complexity. Many people mention this difference in a two‑line response.
2. Your Typical Day, Not Your Best Day
SSA focuses on your usual day‑to‑day functioning, not rare good days. Many people think about:
whether they open and read mail themselves or need help
whether paperwork feels overwhelming and gets set aside
how often they need to reread before something makes sense
whether they forget steps unless instructions stay visible
Imagining the last few weeks—not just yesterday—can help keep your answer grounded in your real experience. Keeping a journal can help you be more aware of the assistance you need on a day-to-day basis.
3. Connect Symptoms to Reading and Following Through
Many physical and mental symptoms affect written instructions. Some people think about:
Cognitive symptoms (brain fog, memory issues)
losing your place quickly
forgetting what you read moments later
Pain, fatigue, headaches
difficulty sitting still long enough to read
needing breaks because reading increases pain or exhaustion
Anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD
staring at the page without absorbing it
avoiding mail because it triggers stress
Vision or literacy limitations
needing larger print, bright light, or a magnifier
managing short sentences but struggling with forms or long words
Connecting symptoms to functional effects can help you describe your experience clearly.
4. Keep Your Answer Consistent With the Rest of the Form
Even with two short lines, it may help to think about whether your description fits naturally with what you wrote elsewhere. For example, if you report difficulty paying attention in Question 20(d) or trouble finishing tasks in 20(e), your written‑instruction answer may reflect the same general pattern.
Likewise, if you say written instructions are very difficult, but elsewhere describe managing complex paperwork daily without help, you might briefly explain timing or circumstances if both are true (for example, you used to do those tasks but cannot now, or only manage them in short sessions).
Because SSA only gives two lines for the answer, most people provide a short, real-life summary. Here are some ways people tend to think about this question to help simplify the answer:
Simple vs. complex written instructions
Many people manage simple notes (“Take pill at 8”) but struggle with multi-step instructions, long letters, or complicated forms.
Typical functioning vs. rare good days
DDS examiners generally looks at your overall, day-to-day functioning. Everyone has days that feel a little better or worse, and brief improvement does not necessarily show a lasting change in ability. This question simply helps SSA understand what written instructions are like for you most of the time.
How symptoms show up when reading
Some people reread repeatedly, lose their place, feel mentally drained, forget steps, or experience anxiety or visual strain. Is this you? What causes those symptoms?
Tools and work-arounds
These might include using larger print, reading aloud, breaking tasks into smaller parts, or asking someone to help interpret written information.
Mentioning these patterns (briefly, of course) helps SSA understand what reading and following instructions are like for you day-to-day.
How to Describe Your Limits in Clear, Neutral Language
SSA’s rules emphasize comparing what you say about your symptoms with medical and other evidence. Honest, specific, and non-extreme descriptions tend to align best with this approach.
Here are principles many people find helpful when describing their experience:
Avoid phrases like “I always…” or “I never…” unless they are truly accurate.
Focus on how often a problem occurs, how long it lasts, and what helps you cope.
Include what you struggle with as well as what you can do with help.
Below are example patterns people often adapt into their own words:
1. When Simple Instructions Are Manageable but Complex Ones Aren’t
“Short written notes like ‘Take pill at 8 a.m.’ are okay if I reread them. Long letters or forms are overwhelming. I lose my place, forget steps, and usually need someone to go over them with me.”
“I manage one- or two-step directions, but detailed instructions with several bullet points or fine print are hard for me to follow without help.”
These examples show where the line is between what someone can and cannot do, instead of suggesting an all-or-nothing limitation.
2. When Reading Itself Is Difficult
“Because of my vision problems, I need large print and bright light. I often ask family to read important letters and forms to me.”
“I never learned to read very well. I handle short, simple words but not medical terms or forms, so someone usually reads and explains them.”
SSA considers education and how impairments affect basic work activities, so mentioning vision or literacy limitations can help provide context.
3. When Brain Fog or Cognitive Issues Are the Main Problem
“With brain fog, I reread the same line several times and still forget parts of the instructions. I mix up steps unless someone breaks them into smaller tasks.”
“If directions are more than a few lines, I get mentally exhausted and stop. I may need to come back later or have someone walk me through each step.”
These descriptions align with SSA’s focus on understanding, remembering, and applying information over time.
4. When Mental Health Symptoms Get in the Way
“Written instructions make me anxious. Sometimes I stare at the page without absorbing anything and put the letter away.”
“Depression and PTSD affect my concentration. With long letters or forms, my mind races or shuts down, and I often need someone to summarize them for me.”
These descriptions can help show how emotional symptoms affect focus, persistence, and the ability to stay engaged with written information.
5. When Pain, Fatigue, or Headaches Limit Reading Time
“Because of pain and fatigue, I can only read for a few minutes before I need to change positions or rest. When I’m tired, I miss details and skip parts of the instructions.”
“Reading and bright light trigger migraines. I keep written directions very short or have someone else read them to me.”
These examples show the link between symptoms and how they affect daily functioning when following written instructions.
Helpful Everyday Examples for question 20(f) on the Function Report (Educational Only)
These examples show the style of brief answers people commonly give to answer “how to follow written instructions” (these examples are not instructions on what to write on the form):
Everyday examples of what written instructions are like:
“Short notes are fine, but I lose track with longer written steps because of brain fog.”
“I need to reread written instructions because I forget parts quickly.”
“Small print and long letters are difficult, and someone often has to read important mail to me.”
“When pain or fatigue gets worse, I can’t follow written steps unless they’re very simple.”
Examples that show how someone might describe using a tool or support:
“I can follow short steps, but longer instructions are easier when I read them out loud so I don’t lose my place.”
“I use larger print or bright light to read, but even then I forget steps unless they’re simple.”
“I need someone to read long mail to me because I get confused by paragraphs, but I can manage short notes if I reread them.”
Because the form only provides two short lines, many people summarize their usual experience in one brief sentence based on their everyday routine.
Time, Context, and Consistency Across form 3373 helps tell the story
DDS examiners do not look at Question 20(f) in isolation. According to SSA guidance, they review your answers along with medical records and the rest of the Function Report to understand your day-to-day functioning as a whole. (SSA Policy Interpretation Rule SSR 16-3p explains that symptoms are evaluated in the context of the entire record, not from a single sentence taken alone.)
A helpful way to think about your experience is to consider the what, when, why, and how of your difficulties with written instructions:
What happens when symptoms interfere with reading or remembering steps?
When does this usually occur—mornings, evenings, flare‑up days?
Why does it happen—fatigue, pain, brain fog, vision changes, medication effects?
How do you manage it—pausing, rereading, changing lighting, or asking someone to help?
If you mention time limits or patterns, it may help to consider whether they fit naturally with your answers elsewhere. For example, someone might say, “I can follow short written notes, but after a few paragraphs I lose my place and have to come back later because of fatigue.” This type of description tends to match with answers about attention span, task completion, or how long they can sit or concentrate.
Sometimes answers on the form can appear to conflict with each other. For instance, an examiner may notice if one response says you “cannot follow written instructions at all,” but elsewhere you report doing detailed paperwork or online tasks daily. In many cases, there is a simple explanation: maybe you can only do them with help, in short sessions, or during quieter times when symptoms are milder. A brief note about timing or circumstances can make the overall picture clearer.
Overall, SSA is trying to understand how your symptoms affect written directions in real life and how that fits with what you report about attention, task completion, and other activities. Keeping your descriptions grounded in your own experience and reasonably consistent across questions can help an examiner understand your situation without guessing.
How SSA Compares Your Answers With Your Medical Records
SSA also reviews your answers in the context of your medical records, not just the form itself. Examiners compare what you describe with what your providers have documented over time, looking for everyday details that explain why written instructions may be easy or difficult for you.
Here are the types of medical‑record notes that often support difficulties with written directions:
mentions of poor concentration, slowed thinking, or trouble remembering information
notes about rereading, losing your place, or needing instructions explained more than once
documentation of fatigue, pain, or headaches that make focusing harder
vision findings showing strain, blurry vision, or difficulty with small print
medication side effects such as drowsiness or mental fog
These details help SSA understand how symptoms could realistically interfere with following written steps.
On the other hand, records can sometimes appear inconsistent with reported difficulties, such as:
notes that you manage detailed paperwork or online tasks independently
repeated descriptions of alertness, intact memory, or normal concentration
documentation that you read and understand medical instructions without help
These entries don’t mean SSA dismisses your statements; they simply prompt examiners to look for timing, context, or explanations (for example, you used to do tasks you can no longer manage, or you can only complete them on better days or with help). This comparison helps SSA understand how your symptoms appear in daily activities and how they might affect work tasks involving written information.
Summary
Answering Question 20(f) on Form SSA‑3373 may only take a couple of lines, but it gives SSA examiners helpful insight into how your symptoms affect reading and following written directions in daily life and in potential work settings. Describing what following written instructions is like for you—based on your usual experience, your symptoms, and your medical history—helps examiners understand your functioning without guessing. Keeping your explanations simple, honest, and consistent with the rest of your form and medical records can make this part of the process clearer and more accurate.
If you’d like to see example answers for the full function report, you can review our article SSA Form 3373 Function Report: Example Answers for Esophageal Cancer.
FAQ
Q. How does SSA use your answer to the question about written instructions on Form SSA-3373?
A. SSA uses Question 20(f) on SSA-3373 (Function Report) to understand how your physical and mental medical conditions may affect your ability to read, understand, and follow written information in everyday situations. Symptoms like pain, fatigue, vision changes, memory issues, or cognitive difficulties can all play a role. SSA reviews these limits under its mental-function rules (20 C.F.R. §404.1520a) and physical residual functional capacity rules (20 C.F.R. §404.1545) to see how your symptoms show up in routine written tasks.
Q. Why does SSA ask about written instructions on FORM 3373?
A. SSA asks about written instructions because following written instructions is part of many everyday and work‑related tasks. Understanding how your physical or mental symptoms affect reading and using written information helps DDS examiners see whether certain types of work tasks—such as written directions, notes, forms, or step‑by‑step procedures—may be harder for you to manage on a regular basis. This question helps SSA understand how your health affects practical, real‑world functioning, which is part of how they evaluate your ability to work under their rules.
Q. What if two lines aren’t enough space to answer the Question?
A. Some people add a short note in the Remarks section at the end of Form 3373 to help further explain their answer or describe a special situation that supports their answer to how well they follow written instructions.
Q. Does SSA compare this answer with other answers on the form?
A. Yes. SSA reviews everything together — your statements, activities, medical records, and the rest of your form — to get a full picture of everyday functioning.
References
Social Security Administration. (2024). Form SSA-3373-BK: Function Report – Adult. https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3373-bk.pdf
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). 20 C.F.R. §404.1520a – Evaluation of mental impairments. https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1520a.htm
Social Security Administration. (2016). SSR 16-3p: Evaluation of Symptoms in Disability Claims. https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2016-03-di-01.html
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). 20 C.F.R. §404.1545 – Residual functional capacity. https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1545.htm
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical questions and a licensed attorney for legal questions.
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