Functional Assessment for Adults with Disabilities

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. To receive SSDI or SSI disability benefits, an individual must meet the statutory definition of disability, which is "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity [SGA] by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." SSA uses a five-step sequential process to determine whether an adult applicant meets this definition. Functional Assessment for Adults with Disabilities examines ways to collect information about an individual's physical and mental (cognitive and noncognitive) functional abilities relevant to work requirements. This report discusses the types of information that support findings of limitations in functional abilities relevant to work requirements, and provides findings and conclusions regarding the collection of information and assessment of functional abilities relevant to work requirements. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Disability and Function 3 Collection of Information on Function and Disability 4 Integrated Assessment of Work-Related Functional Ability 5 Selected Instruments for Assessment of Physical Functional Abilities Relevant to Work Requirements 6 Selected Instruments for Assessment of Mental Functional Abilities Relevant to Work Requirements 7 Selected Impairments and Limitations in Functional Abilities Relevant to Work 8 Review of Selected Disability Benefit Programs 9 Overall Conclusions Appendix A Public Session Agendas Appendix B Glossary Appendix C Literature Search Strategies Appendix D Biographical Sketches of Committee Members