Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

What are Activities of Daily Living?

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are basic tasks that individuals perform on a daily basis in order to maintain their personal hygiene, health, and safety. These tasks include activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (moving from one place to another), and eating. In the context of Social Security Disability (SSD), ADLs are used as a measure of an individual's functional capacity, or their ability to perform daily tasks independently.

How do ADLs impact claims for SSD Benefits?

When an individual applies for SSD benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will assess their ability to perform ADLs in order to determine their eligibility for benefits. The SSA uses a five-step process to evaluate an individual's functional capacity, which includes an assessment of their ability to perform ADLs. The SSA will also consider the individual's medical condition, age, education, and work experience when making a determination of disability.

In order to be considered disabled by the SSA, an individual must demonstrate that they are unable to perform any substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medically determinable impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months. In addition, the individual must also demonstrate that their impairment(s) prevents them from performing ADLs, or that they require significant assistance with ADLs.

The SSA will also consider the impact of any assistive devices or treatments on an individual's ability to perform ADLs. For example, if an individual uses a wheelchair for mobility, the SSA will take this into account when assessing their ability to perform ADLs such as transferring. Additionally, the SSA will also consider the individual's ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), which are more complex tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and managing finances.

It is important to note that the SSA's definition of disability is different from the definition used by other government programs, such as Medicaid or Medicare. The SSA's definition of disability is also different from the definition used by private insurance companies. Therefore, it is important to understand the specific requirements of the program for which you are applying in order to determine your eligibility.