Listing code
113.13
Children (Part B)
Body system
113.00
Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases, children)
Subsections
3
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Nervous system (See 113.00K4 .) Primary central nervous system (CNS; that is, brain and spinal cord) cancers, as described in A, B, or C:
Subsection A
Glioblastoma multiforme, ependymoblastoma, and diffuse intrinsic brain stem gliomas (see 113.00K4a ).
Subsection B
Any Grade III or Grade IV CNS cancer (see 113.00K4b ), including astrocytomas, sarcomas, and medulloblastoma and other primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs).
Subsection C
Any primary CNS cancer, as described in 1 or 2: 1. Metastatic. 2. Progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
- Metastatic.
- Progressive or recurrent following initial anticancer therapy.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 113.13. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 113.13 usually fail
One pitfall is matching only the location (brain or spinal cord) but not the needed cancer type or grade described in 113.13A or 113.13B. Another pitfall is treating imaging findings as enough by themselves, without medical evidence that specifies the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic lesion. A third pitfall is missing the timing or course elements in 113.13C, which require metastatic disease or progression or recurrence following initial anticancer therapy. A fourth pitfall is not having the right pathology evidence when there was an operative procedure such as a biopsy or needle aspiration, since a pathology report and operative note are generally needed.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical evidence must specify the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic lesion for the brain and spinal cord cancer in listing 113.13. For operative procedures including a biopsy or needle aspiration, SSA generally needs both the operative note and the pathology report. When those documents cannot be obtained, SSA accepts summaries of hospitalization or other medical reports, and these should include details of surgical findings and, whenever appropriate, pathological findings. If the case relies on 113.13C (metastatic, progressive, or recurrent after initial anticancer therapy), evidence about progression or recurrence and the response to the initial anticancer therapy is important when available.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
Steps 4 and 5 focus on whether functioning is still severely limited even if the exact 113.13A, 113.13B, or 113.13C criteria are not met. That generally means the claim moves on to a broader evaluation of the cancer's effects, including post-therapeutic residual effects if present, rather than requiring the specific cancer type, grade, or metastatic/progression pattern. The outcome can still depend on the longitudinal picture of duration, frequency, and response to therapy, especially when recurrence, persistence, or progression is involved.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
At the start of an SSDI claim, work activity can affect eligibility, and the ability to perform substantial work activity may be considered before a medical decision on cancer criteria. For children under 18 (Part B), listing 113.13 is aimed at primary CNS cancers that meet the specific Subsection A, B, or C patterns, such as glioblastoma multiforme and related tumors (113.13A), any Grade III or Grade IV CNS cancer (113.13B), or metastatic or progressive or recurrent primary CNS cancer after initial anticancer therapy (113.13C). Trial work and extended eligibility periods apply only to people who qualify for benefits and meet the rules for those programs; listing 113.13 is about the medical criteria for approval, including the grade/type and course features like progression or recurrence after therapy.
Listing 113.13 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for nervous system disability claims.