When Indiana residents are attempting to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, they may find themselves questioned about their Activities of Daily Living or otherwise known as ADL.
ADL are the things most people perform in the course of a regular day. This may include personal hygiene, making meals, grocery shopping, and household chores such as doing the dishes, cleaning your home, and doing laundry.
Why does Social Security care about your Activities of Daily Living? Social Security typically will ask claimants, or third parties, questions about the claimant’s ability to perform ADL to determine whether or not they can perform work like activities and therefore be employed. For instance, if you tell the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you are able to vacuum your house, clean your bathrooms, and do your laundry; the SSA might not find it too difficult to believe that you can do other work activities.
At the hearing level, Administrative Law Judges (ALJ’s) are interested in your Activities of Daily Living. During the claims process, questionnaires are usually completed by claimants or third parties 
regarding the claimant’s ADL. Who is a third party? These are names of individuals that the claimant has provided to the Social Security Administration of people who know of their personal situation. It is important for claimant’s to only provide the names of people who really know and understand what is going on in the claimant’s life. These third parties are often contacted and asked questions regarding the claimant’s ADL, and it is important that they can provide correct and current information regarding the claimant’s ADL.
Social Security Disability: Claim Denied?
Need Help With Application?
Don't get frustrated! At our law firm, it's our mission to professionally represent our disabled clients, as well as their families, and work hard to get you the benefits you deserve.
or Email us.
In summary, it is important that Social Security claimants and third parties provide accurate information as to what a claimant can or cannot do. So keep your friends, neighbors, and relatives you have listed as third parties informed as to what your limitations may be. It may help in obtaining a favorable result at an early stage of the disability process.
Indianapolis Social Security Disability Attorney Scott D. Lewis would gladly discuss your Social Security disability claim. For a free consultation, call (866) 950-5116.
