SSA Blue Book Reference Tool

How to Use This SSA Blue Book Reference Tool

This page is designed as a shortcut into the official SSA “Blue Book” (Listing of Impairments) — not a replacement for it.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Pick the body system that best fits your main condition.
   For example, back and joint problems usually fall under 1.00 – Musculoskeletal Disorders, seizure disorders often fall under 11.00 – Neurological, and depression or bipolar disorder fall under 12.00 – Mental Disorders.

2. Expand the category to see specific listings.
   Each listing is numbered (like 1.15, 4.02, or 12.04) and describes a particular type of condition, such as disorders of the spine, chronic heart failure, or depressive and bipolar disorders.

3. Click the SSA.gov link for full details.
   Our tool sends you directly to the official SSA Blue Book page for that section, where you can read the complete criteria and medical evidence requirements.

4. Compare the listing to your medical records with your doctor or representative.
   Look at what the listing requires (tests, imaging, clinical findings, and functional limitations) and compare it to what’s documented in your chart.

5. Use your listing number in forms and communication.
   When you or your representative talk with SSA, your doctor, or an attorney, being able to say “We’re looking at Listing 1.15” or “Listing 12.04” can help everyone stay on the same page.

Important: This tool is a quick reference only. The SSA Blue Book is complex, the rules change over time, and many approved SSDI cases do not meet a listing exactly. Always rely on the official SSA website and, when possible, guidance from a qualified professional.

Understanding SSA Blue Book Listings (and How They Affect Your Claim)

What is the SSA “Blue Book”?

The SSA Blue Book, officially called Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, contains the Listing of Impairments — medical conditions that SSA considers severe enough to prevent substantial gainful activity when the criteria are fully met.

The listings are part of federal regulations (Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404) and are used in both SSDI and SSI disability claims for medical severity.

Adults vs. children: Part A and Part B

SSA divides the Listing of Impairments into two main parts: (Social Security)

• Part A – Adult Listings (age 18 and over)

  • 1.00 – Musculoskeletal

  • 2.00 – Special Senses and Speech

  • 3.00 – Respiratory

  • 4.00 – Cardiovascular

  • 5.00 – Digestive

  • 6.00 – Genitourinary

  • 7.00 – Hematological

  • 8.00 – Skin

  • 9.00 – Endocrine

  • 10.00 – Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems

  • 11.00 – Neurological

  • 12.00 – Mental Disorders

  • 13.00 – Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)

  • 14.00 – Immune System Disorders

• Part B – Childhood Listings (under age 18)
  Uses a separate numbering system (100.00–114.00) tailored to childhood conditions and how they affect development and functioning.

This tool focuses on the adult Blue Book listings of 14 major adult body-system categories (Part A) and does not contain childhood listings (Part B) at this time. You can look up childhood listings on the SSA website.

Where Blue Book listings fit in SSA’s 5-step evaluation

For SSDI and adult SSI claims, SSA uses a 5-step evaluation process. The listings are mainly used at Step 3:

• Step 1: Are you working above substantial gainful activity (SGA) levels?

• Step 2: Do you have a “severe” medically determinable impairment?

• Step 3: Does your condition meet or medically equal a Blue Book listing?

• Step 4: Can you still do any of your past relevant work?

• Step 5: Can you adjust to any other work in the national economy?

If your impairment meets or medically equals a listing (and meets the duration requirement), SSA generally finds you disabled at Step 3, without going on to Steps 4 and 5.

Do you have to meet a listing to be approved?

No. Most SSDI approvals do not come from meeting a listing exactly.

If your condition doesn’t meet or equal a listing, SSA can still approve you later in the process based on your residual functional capacity (RFC) and the medical-vocational rules (often called the “Grid”).

That’s why this tool should be seen as:

• A way to organize and label your medical issues using SSA’s language

• A way to help your doctor or representative understand what SSA is looking for

• Not a yes/no predictor of whether your SSDI claim will be approved

For a deeper walkthrough, see:

• “Unlocking the SSA Blue Book: A Practical Guide to Disability Listings” (big-picture overview)

• “How to Use the SSA Blue Book for Your SSDI Claim (2025 Guide)” (step-by-step, with examples)

Frequently Asked Questions About SSA Blue Book Listings

Q. What is the SSA Blue Book in simple terms?

A. The SSA Blue Book is the official medical rulebook that explains which physical and mental conditions SSA considers disabling and what evidence is needed.

More technically, it’s the Listing of Impairments in SSA’s Disability Evaluation Under Social Security. Each listing describes medical findings, test results, and functional limitations that, if documented, are severe enough to meet SSA’s definition of disability.

Q. Do I have to meet a Blue Book listing to win SSDI?

A. No. You do not have to meet a listing to be approved for SSDI.

If you don’t meet or equal a listing at Step 3, SSA moves on to look at your residual functional capacity (RFC) and applies the medical-vocational rules (the “Grid”) to decide if there are any jobs you can still do. Many approvals — especially for people over 50 — happen at this stage, not at the listing stage.

Q. How do I find the right Blue Book listing for my condition?

A. Start by identifying your main body system (for example, heart, lungs, spine, mental health). Then:

1. Use the tool on this page to find the matching body-system section (1.00–14.00).

2. Expand the section and click through to the SSA.gov listing.

3. Read the descriptions and see which listing most closely matches your diagnosis and symptoms.

4. If you’re not sure, ask your treating doctor or a disability professional which listing they would use.

It’s common to have more than one relevant listing when you have multiple conditions.

Q. What if my diagnosis isn’t listed in the Blue Book?

A. Many diagnoses don’t appear by name in the Blue Book. That does not mean you can’t be approved.

SSA looks at whether your medical condition is at least as severe as a listed impairment (this is called “medical equivalence”) or whether, when all your conditions are combined, you still cannot sustain full-time work.

In practice, examiners and judges often “map” an unlisted diagnosis to the closest listing and then consider your functioning and RFC.

Q. Are the SSA Blue Book listings the same for SSDI and SSI?

A. Yes. The medical listings and severity standards are the same for SSDI and adult SSI disability claims.

The difference is in financial eligibility:

• SSDI depends on your work history and insured status

• SSI depends on income and resource limits

But the Blue Book medical criteria apply to both programs.

Q. How often does SSA update the Blue Book?

A. SSA revises listings periodically — sometimes entire body systems (like mental disorders in 2017, musculoskeletal disorders in 2021), and sometimes individual listings.

Updates are published in the Federal Register and then incorporated into the online Blue Book on SSA.gov. For that reason, it’s important to:

• Use online versions (not old printed copies)

• Double-check the effective date of any listing you’re relying on

This tool is designed to route you directly to SSA’s current online content.

Q. Can this tool tell me if I will be approved for SSDI?

A. No. This tool cannot predict the outcome of your claim.

It’s a reference tool to:

• Help you quickly find the right SSA Blue Book section

• Give your doctor or representative the exact listing number

• Make it easier to compare your medical records to SSA’s criteria

Actual decisions depend on all the evidence in your file, including your RFC, work history, age, education, and how your symptoms affect daily functioning.

Q. What’s the difference between “meeting” and “equaling” a listing?

1. You meet a listing when your medical evidence matches the listing criteria as written.

2. You medically equal a listing when your condition is different but just as severe as a listed impairment, based on SSA’s medical judgment.

In both cases, if SSA agrees that you meet or equal a listing and you satisfy the duration requirement (usually 12 months or expected to last that long), you can be found disabled at Step 3.

Q. Is this tool only for claimants, or can doctors and attorneys use it too?

A. Anyone can use it:

• Claimants can learn the listing numbers and language that SSA uses.

• Doctors can quickly pull up the exact criteria and make sure their reports address them.

• Attorneys and representatives can use it as a fast way to check current listing numbers during case review, brief writing, or hearing prep.

Because the links go straight to SSA.gov, everyone is working from the same official source.

Q. Where can I see the official SSA Blue Book online?

A. You can always access the official SSA Blue Book directly on SSA.gov:

• Main Blue Book page: Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (Listing of Impairments)

• Adult Listings (Part A): for adults age 18 and over

• Childhood Listings (Part B): for children under 18

This tool simply organizes those same sections in a more user-friendly way and links you straight to the official text.

Educational & Legal Disclaimer

This page and tool are for educational purposes only. They do not provide legal or medical advice, do not guarantee any outcome in an SSDI or SSI claim, and do not replace consultation with a licensed attorney or qualified healthcare provider. SSA rules and listings change over time; always confirm information on SSA.gov or with a professional before relying on it for your claim.