How to Answer “How well do you handle stress?” on SSA Form 3373 (Function Report)
Stress doesn’t just arrive; it hijacks the day.
It’s the invisible weight that turns a simple task into an impossible mountain. On the Function Report (SSA-3373-BK), Question 20(j) tries to capture how you handle that reality.
But be careful—this question can be deceptive.
This article is educational information and not legal advice. You can contact an SSDI attorney for personalized legal advice.
What happens when you’re stressed?
When you live with a disability, your "stress bucket" is often already full just from managing your daily symptoms. One drop of external pressure—a deadline, a noisy room, a change in plans—might cause that bucket to overflow. The SSA isn't asking if you get annoyed in traffic; they are trying to measure your resilience.
What SSA Form 3373, Q20(j), is asking—in practical terms:
The Question: "How well do you handle stress?"
Questions behind the Question: Does pressure of stress cause your symptoms to flare up? When the typical chaos of a workday hits (deadlines, criticism, interruptions), do you keep working, or do you need to shut down and recover? This answer helps the SSA decide if you can sustain concentration, persistence, and pace in a real job.
What is being measured: The SSA is looking beyond emotional stress to measure endurance. They are assessing whether medical symptoms or side effects force a person to stop working when they are faced with stressful conditions (like deadlines, interruptions, or noise). The answer to the stress question on Form 3373 helps decision-makers understand an applicant's need for recovery time or extra help, which is a primary factor in determining limitations in concentration, pace, and reliability.
Everyone’s situation is different. This article explains how people often present their experience clearly for SSA. It is for educational purposes only and not legal advice.
A quick way to build your answer to the ssa stress question
Picture one ordinary day. Consider what starts stress, how often you feel stressed, and what you do when you are stressed.
Trigger → first signs. What triggers a stressful event? Is it time pressure, noise, conflict, or multi‑tasking? What signs do you notice first? Some people experience tight chest, brain fog, pain spike, shaky hands, or tunnel vision in response to stress.
Frequency → recovery. How often do you feel stressed? Most days, a few times a week, or less often? How long do you usually need to settle (for example, 5–10 minutes in a quiet room, 20–30 minutes lying down)? What helps you recover (pacing, a breathing app, medication, a step‑by‑step list, another person)?
Consequences → safety. What tasks tend to get dropped or delayed when stress hits (leaving a cart, missing a call, abandoning a form, burning food)? Does someone need to step in (who and how often)? Does your stress reaction carryover throughout the day or into the next day (headache, fatigue, brain fog, needing to lie down)?
The 3-Step "Mini-Story" Builder - A Sentence System to Help
Are you finding it hard to put your stress experience into words? Many people find these fill-in-the-blank sentences helpful. Imagine you’re describing a specific scene in a movie about your week. What caused you stress this week?
1. The Spark & The Symptom
"When [specific trigger] happens, the first thing I notice is [physical or mental reaction]."
2. The Reaction & Recovery
"About [how often], I stop what I'm doing for [how long] and use [coping strategy] to settle."
3. The "Bad Day" Reality
"On my worst days (about [frequency] a week), I can’t bounce back right away. I need [help from others/longer rest] and I’m off task for [how long]."
See how it flows together: Once the blanks are filled in, the stress experience can be crafted into an answer. For instance:
"When time pressure and noise build up, I first notice chest tightness and brain fog. About three days a week, I step away for around 15–20 minutes and use a breathing app. On bad days (about twice a week), the brain fog doesn’t lift; my partner finishes phone calls and I lie down for around an hour."
A Note on Accuracy: Life isn’t a spreadsheet. If your symptoms change from day to day, using words like "about" or "around" (e.g., "around 20 minutes," "about twice a week") can keep your description accurate without forcing you to guess exact numbers.
Why SSA Cares About Stress (The "Reliability" Test)
The SSA isn’t evaluating your feelings; they are assessing your ability to cope in the workplace.
In the context of disability evaluation, "stress tolerance" isn't about whether a person feels nervous or anxious. It’s an assessment of whether an individual can sustain work activity during typical workplace pressures.
SSDI claim examiners look at "stress tolerance" to understand if an applicant can maintain a routine schedule and performance level, or if workplace stress would cause their daily functioning to break down.
Here is an overview of how these concepts are generally applied during an evaluation:
1. The "Competitive Work" Standard
The SSA evaluates disability claims against the standard of "competitive employment." This standard assumes that every job—even a simple one—comes with routine stressors. These typically include receiving instructions from supervisors, handling interruptions, meeting schedule demands, and dealing with changes in routine.
The Concept: The evaluation looks at whether these standard pressures, when combined with an applicant's medical condition, might lead to "work-preclusive" behaviors, such as needing unscheduled breaks, leaving tasks unfinished, or excessive absenteeism.
2. Determining Functional Limitations (The RFC)
DDS examiners use the information in a file to determine a "Residual Functional Capacity" (RFC). This is an administrative term that basically means “the most a person can still do despite their limitations.”
How it connects: When a file documents that stress exacerbates symptoms, examiners may determine that specific work restrictions are necessary. For example, depending on the total evidence, an RFC might limit a person to "simple, routine tasks," "no fast-paced production quotas," or "occasional interaction with the public." These are illustrations of how stress can translate into work restrictions.
3. The Consistency Review (SSR 16-3p)
Under Social Security Ruling 16-3p, adjudicators must compare a claimant's statements about their symptoms with the objective medical evidence and other information in the file.
The "Echo" Effect: They look for consistency across the record. If a Function Report states that stress causes a total shutdown, adjudicators generally look for corroborating details in the file—such as therapy notes discussing overwhelm, changes in medication during stressful periods, or past employment records noting conflicts. The goal is to see if the reported limitations are consistent with the medical and longitudinal history.
Examples you can adapt (mild → severe)
You can use these examples as starting points and then rewrite them to fit your experience. Keep it simple and concrete: what sets stress off, what shows up in your body, mood, and thinking, how often it happens, how long you need to settle, and whether anyone helps or any safety steps are needed. Choose the level (mild/moderate/marked) that’s closest to your usual days and adjust details. If your days swing, note the typical pattern here. If you need more space, you can use the Remarks section.
Mild: “I can manage everyday stress with planning. About once a week I step away for around 5–10 minutes to reset. I avoid peak hours at stores and use phone reminders so I don’t forget steps.”
Moderate: “On several days a week, time pressure or multiple tasks makes my thoughts race and I lose track of steps. I pause about 15–20 minutes in a quiet room; I sometimes leave a cart and finish later. My partner usually handles customer‑service calls because I get overwhelmed.”
Marked/Severe: “On most days, even small conflicts or deadlines lead to panic or shutdown. I need multiple breaks and often cannot finish without help. After a stressful situation, I’m down the rest of the day and sometimes the next.”
Review your medical records. Do they contradict your statement about stress reactions or align with your statement?
The Connections: Conditions, the Blue Book, and Stress
You won’t find a chapter titled 'Stress' in the SSA Blue Book. Instead, think of stress like layers on a cake—it stacks up, making your other conditions harder to handle. Whether your disability is physical, mental, or cognitive, SSA considers how those added layers limit what you can do in four areas often called the Paragraph B criteria.
Here are some areas of stress that are examined in SSDI claims:
Concentrate, Persist, and Maintain Pace (The Stamina Factor):
SSA wants to know: Can you sustain effort and stay on task?
Life experiences: When you are stressed, does your pain flare up and force you to slow down? Does anxiety scatter your thoughts so you can't finish what you started?
Adapt or Manage Oneself (The Emotional Regulator):
SSA wants to know: Can you control your behavior and maintain your well-being?
Life experiences: When plans change or something goes wrong, can you roll with the punches? Or does stress cause a meltdown, a shutdown, or a neglect of your own safety and hygiene?
Interacting with Others (The Social Fuse):
SSA wants to know: Can you handle conflict, criticism, or the public?
Life experiences: Does stress shorten your fuse? Does it turn a normal conversation into an argument, or make you withdraw completely to avoid people?
function report Guide: How Stress Can Affect Different Conditions
How to use this guide: This guide explains how stress commonly affects different medical and mental health conditions and how those changes relate to the SSA Blue Book criteria. You don’t need to read it all—just focus on the sections that match your situation. Many people skim the headings first, then read the parts that feel relevant.
You can also keep medication side effects in mind as you read. Many people describe side effects (like extra fatigue, fogginess, dizziness, or stomach issues) alongside stress‑related changes, because all of these can affect how they function day to day.
Before you start, you may want to look up your condition in the Quick Blue Book Reference Tool. That tool shows which SSA category your condition falls under, which can help you understand the examples below. You can search for your condition in the Blue Book tool and then find a link that leads directly to the SSA website for details on that condition.
Mental & Neurodevelopmental Conditions (SSA Blue Book 12.00)
Blue Book 12.00 evaluates how a mental condition affects thought processing, interactions with others, ability to stay on task, and ability to manage routine changes. Stress often makes these areas harder, and many people describe those real-life effects in Question 20(j).
Anxiety, Panic, and PTSD
How stress often shows up: Many people describe their body flipping into "alarm mode"—racing heart, shaking, short breath, dizziness, tunnel vision, or feeling unsafe. Stress may cause:
Needing to step away for 10–20 minutes
Avoiding calls, crowds, or conversations
Losing the ability to focus during or after panic symptoms
Being unable to return to the task until the body settles
How this connects to the Blue Book: Stress-related symptoms often affect:
Interacting with others: avoiding calls, crowds, or difficult conversations
Concentration/persistence: losing the ability to stay on task during panic
Adapting/self‑management: needing time or space to calm the body
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many people mention:
Common triggers (noise, conflict, phone calls, criticism, reminders of trauma)
How often panic or stress symptoms occur
How long it takes to return to baseline
Strategies they rely on (quiet room, breathing exercises, contacting a support person)
Depression & Bipolar Spectrum
How stress often shows up: Stress can reduce emotional tolerance and increase fatigue. People often describe:
Shutting down or crying when pressured
Difficulty starting or completing tasks
Needing hours to recover after conflict or criticism
Mood swings under stress (especially with bipolar spectrum conditions)
How this connects to the Blue Book: Stress may affect:
Understanding/remembering/applying information: trouble processing instructions when overwhelmed
Concentration/persistence: difficulty staying on task during low‑energy or low‑mood periods
Adapting/self‑management: shutting down or withdrawing after stressful interactions
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many individuals talk about:
How many days per week stress leads to low motivation or shutdown
Needing time alone or rest to recover
Leaving tasks unfinished when mood symptoms hit
ADHD & Autism
How stress often shows up: Stress amplifies sensory load and processing difficulty. People commonly describe:
Losing steps or making repeated mistakes
Meltdowns, shutdowns, irritability, or withdrawal
Overload from noise, multitasking, or unexpected changes
Needing extra time to switch tasks
How this connects to the Blue Book: Stress often affects:
Understanding/remembering/applying information: difficulty holding steps in mind when overloaded
Concentration/persistence: losing focus or needing breaks to reset
Interacting with others: irritability, shutdowns, or avoidance during overload
Adapting/self‑management: difficulty coping with routine changes or sensory triggers
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many people mention:
Using visual checklists or written instructions
Timers, reminders, or structured routines
Quiet spaces or noise‑reduction tools
A support person for phone calls or complex tasks
Taking longer than others to complete tasks
How SSA Frames Mental Conditions
SSA evaluates mental conditions using the Paragraph B criteria, which look at:
Understanding, remembering, and applying information
Interacting with others
Concentrating, persisting, and maintaining pace
Adapting or managing oneself
People’s 20(j) answers often show how stress affects those areas in real life, such as:
Needing breaks after stressful events (for example: stepping away for 10–20 minutes, needing quiet time to reset, or requiring a full pause before returning to a task)
Losing the ability to concentrate (for example: rereading the same instructions, forgetting the next step, or being unable to track a conversation)
Having difficulty communicating (for example: trouble finding words, speaking less, or feeling overwhelmed during conversations)
Struggling with changes in routine (for example: becoming disoriented when plans shift, needing extra time to adjust, or feeling stressed when tasks are rearranged)
SSA uses this information to understand functional limits under their rules.
Neurological Conditions (SSA Blue Book 11.00) & Related Areas
Blue Book 11.00 focuses on motor function, cognitive function, communication, safety, and recovery time. Section 11 in the Bluebook covers neurological disorders, and these disorders can affect reactions to stress. Stress can play a major role in symptom frequency and intensity.
Epilepsy
How stress often shows up: People with epilepsy often describe:
Stress lowering their seizure threshold
Increased frequency of auras or partial seizures
Needing strict sleep routines to prevent episodes
Avoiding flashing lights, crowds, or loud environments
How this connects to the Blue Book: Episodes may affect:
Physical safety during seizures
Recovery time afterward (confusion, fatigue)
Ability to maintain pace due to unpredictability of events
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many talk about:
Patterns or triggers they’ve noticed (for example: missed sleep, stress spikes, flashing lights, loud environments, heat, dehydration, medication changes, or hormonal shifts)
Safety steps they take (lying down, calling someone, leaving a space)
How long recovery lasts before they can function again
Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s
How stress often shows up: People frequently describe:
Slower thinking, especially under pressure
Word‑finding problems
Cognitive fatigue that builds through the day
Needing extra time to understand or respond
How this connects to the Blue Book: Stress may affect:
Processing speed and complex task performance
Concentration/persistence during cognitive fatigue
Adapting/self‑management: difficulty coping with fast‑paced situations
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many mention:
How long they can focus before needing breaks
Needing repeated instructions or written reminders
Challenges restarting tasks after cognitive fatigue (for example: losing track of the last step, needing written reminders to reorient, taking several minutes to mentally reset, or forgetting what they were doing before the break)
Headache Disorders (Including Migraine)
How stress often shows up: Stress is a well‑known trigger. People often describe:
Needing dark or quiet rooms
Nausea, visual disturbances, or light sensitivity
Being down for hours or the rest of the day during an episode
How this connects to the Blue Book: Headache disorders may affect:
Ability to maintain pace due to sudden onset of symptoms
Adapting/self‑management: needing to isolate from light and sound
Interaction and communication: inability to speak clearly during pain spikes
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many mention:
How often headaches occur per week or month
How long each episode lasts
Whether lying down or isolating in a dark, silent room is required (for example: needing complete silence, lights off, or no sensory input until symptoms ease)
Chronic Pain & Systemic Conditions
Fibromyalgia / Chronic Widespread Pain
How stress often shows up: People commonly describe:
Stress amplifying pain intensity
Post‑exertional "payback" after small tasks
Needing rest cycles throughout the day
How this connects to the Blue Book: Pain‑related conditions may affect:
Persistence and pace: difficulty sustaining activity
Adapting/self‑management: needing to shift positions or rest frequently
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many mention:
Weekly flare frequency
Activities that trigger symptoms (for example: standing too long, lifting groceries, concentrating for more than 20–30 minutes, climbing stairs, walking more than a block, emotional stress, temperature changes, or doing multiple tasks in a row)
Recovery time after physical or emotional stress
Long COVID / Chronic Fatigue Patterns
Long COVID disability claims are complex. For Long COVID, stress can be the trigger that turns “doing okay” into a crash. Question 20(j) gives you a place to show that link in SSA’s language: how stress affects attention, pace, and self-management over time. Keep it short and factual—what sets symptoms off, how long it lasts, and what help or breaks you need to recover.
How stress often shows up: Many people describe:
Cognitive fog worsened by multitasking
"Crashes" after brief periods of activity
Needing frequent rest or reclined positions
How this connects to the Blue Book: Symptoms often affect:
Concentration/persistence: difficulty sustaining mental effort
Pace: slowing down after even short tasks
Adapting/self‑management: needing structured rest periods
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many people mention:
How long they can stay upright, focus, or be active before needing a break
What a “crash” looks like for them (for example: needing to lie down, cognitive shutdown, severe fatigue, or sensory overload)
How long recovery usually takes (minutes, hours, or the rest of the day)
Strategies they rely on, such as energy budgeting, short activity blocks, pacing tools, or alarms reminding them to rest
Whether symptoms worsen after stress, physical effort, or multiple tasks in a row
Autoimmune Conditions (SSA Blue Book 14.00) & Other Systemic IllnessES
How stress often shows up: People frequently report:
Increased flare frequency
Joint stiffness or whole‑body fatigue
Shortened ability to perform errands or household tasks
How this connects to the Blue Book: Autoimmune symptoms may affect:
Physical endurance
Pain levels
Ability to manage routine tasks, especially during flares
How people often describe this in Question 20(j): Many mention:
What triggers flares (for example: stress, infections, overexertion, weather changes, skipped medication, or poor sleep)
How many days per month are affected
Whether safety issues arise during high‑symptom days (for example: dropping objects due to joint weakness, slowed reaction time while driving, increased fall risk, confusion during severe fatigue, or difficulty safely using household tools)
COMPARING THE STRESS QUESTION TO OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE FUNCTION REPORT
Once you figure out how to answer the question on how well you handle stress, you can take some time to compare your answer to related questions on the form. SSA compares your answer here with other items to see if your story holds together. They look to see if your reported stress matches your ability to follow instructions under pressure, adjust to routine changes without shutting down, and interact with authority figures—skills that often suffer when stress is high.
Here are some related questions on SSA-3373 with links to our how-to guides:
Q20(f) — “How well do you follow written instructions?
Q20(g) — “How well do you follow spoken instructions?
Q20(k) — “How well do you handle changes in routine?
Q20(d) — “How long can you pay attention?
If you’d like to review example answers for all the questions on form 3373 in one swoop, you can take a look at our esophageal cancer Function Report example to help you determine how to form your answers. (Even if you don’t have cancer, it can help you think about how to create answers to the function report questions.)
Be sure to visit our Form 3373 Resource Hub to learn more.
SUMMARY
In short, Question 20(j) isn’t about proving you’re 'good with stress'—it’s about showing exactly how stress limits you. You can give the SSA a clearer picture of your day-to-day life by focusing on four concrete pieces:
Triggers: What sets the stress off?
Reaction: What physically happens to your body and mind?
Frequency & Recovery: How often does it happen, and how long do you need to recover?
Impact: What tasks get dropped or require extra help?
When these details line up with the Blue Book areas (like concentration, social interaction, and adapting to change), you help the SSA see the reality of your functional capacity.
FAQ for FUNCTION REPORT QUESTION ABOUT HANDLING STRESS
Q. What is SSA trying to learn from this STRESS question ON FORM 3373?
A. Generally, whether symptoms and side effects allow you to tolerate ordinary work stress—deadlines, interruptions, and small changes—consistently, not just on your best day. Decision‑makers compare your answer with treatment notes and the rest of your form.
Q. What if stress isn’t a daily issue for me?
A. Many people simply note that it’s occasional. Descriptions can include when it happens, what it looks like when it does happen, what steps are taken to recover, how long recovery takes, and whether someone or something helps. Consider whether it mostly happens with written or spoken instructions, following routines, or when paying attention, and take time to compare questions and answers on the function report
Q. I handle stress at home but not in public—how do I say that?
A. Briefly describe the setting difference: e.g., “At home I can regroup in a quiet room; in a crowded store I often leave and try later.” If errands or appointments need another person, include that.
Q. Should I list every medication?
A. It’s often enough to name the type and the side effects that matter for stress (sleepy, foggy, dizzy, restless), and tie them to situations (phone calls, forms, driving). You can put dose details in medical forms; on form 3373 you’re explaining how you function. If dose differences affect your stress reaction, you can use the Remarks section on the Function Report to briefly explain the details.
Q. My problems started after an injury or illness—should I mention that?
A. Connecting stress to a specific event helps clarify that it is a medical symptom, not just a personality trait. A brief “before vs. after” comparison illustrates the change in your abilities. You can highlight this shift by noting when it started, what triggers you now, and the increased recovery time or help you need today compared to the past.
Q. Do I need to repeat these exact words if I later testify?
A. No, you aren't expected to memorize your forms like a script. Natural variations in wording are normal. However, the core facts should remain the same. Credibility comes from consistency—meaning the limitations you describe here should align with what appears in your medical records and what you might explain in a future hearing.
References
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Form SSA‑3373‑BK: Function report—Adult. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3373-bk.pdf
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Disability evaluation under Social Security (Blue Book): Part A—Adult listings (12.00 Mental Disorders; 11.00 Neurological; 14.00 Immune System Disorders). Retrieved December 11, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm
Social Security Administration. (2016). SSR 16‑3p: Titles II and XVI: Evaluation of symptoms in disability claims. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2016-03-di-01.html
Social Security Administration. (1985). SSR 85‑15: Titles II and XVI: Capability to do other work—The medical‑vocational rules as a framework for evaluating solely nonexertional impairments. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/02/SSR85-15-di-02.html
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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