Presented is a system and method for assessing the functional ability of a person to perform a task. The system comprises: a task identification unit adapted to identify the task to be performed by the person; and a task complexity unit adapted to obtain a task-specific complexity signal representative of a required level of functional ability to perform the identified task. A functional ability unit is adapted to obtain a functional ability signal representative of a determined functional ability of the person. An assessment unit is adapted to determine an ability of the person to perform the identified task based on the task-specific complexity signal and the functional ability signal.