Listing code
13.28
Adult (Part A)
Body system
13.00
Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)
Subsections
2
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Cancer treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation . (See 13.00L .)
Subsection A
Allogeneic transplantation. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system. OR
Subsection B
Autologous transplantation. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of the first treatment under the treatment plan that includes transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 13.28. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 13.28 usually fail
A frequent failure mode is missing the transplant type detail: 13.28 splits the 12-month disability period into allogeneic transplantation (Subsection A) versus autologous transplantation (Subsection B). Another pitfall is using the wrong start date for the 12-month period: for allogeneic, it is the date of transplantation, while for autologous, it is the date of the first treatment under the plan that includes transplantation. People also sometimes assume the listing guarantees ongoing disability after the initial 12 months; the criteria say that after that period, SSA evaluates any residual impairments under the criteria for the affected body system. Finally, documentation that does not identify the cancer's type, extent, and site can be a problem for the residual-impairment phase after the transplant period.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Include medical evidence that specifies the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic cancer lesion. If operative procedures were part of the cancer diagnosis (such as a biopsy or needle aspiration), SSA generally needs a copy of both the operative note and the pathology report. When those documents cannot be obtained, SSA accepts summaries of hospitalization(s) or other medical reports, and these should include details of the surgical findings and, when appropriate, the pathological findings. For the post-treatment phase, include evidence about significant residual impairments and, when relevant, recurrence, persistence, or progression and response to therapy.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
Step-by-step, 13.28 provides a disability period tied to bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, then switches to evaluating residual impairments. If the transplant-including timeline or the transplant type (allogeneic vs autologous) does not match the time rule in Subsection A or B, SSA moves to the next steps for disability evaluation, which includes assessing residual impairments after cancer treatment using criteria for the affected body system. Claims that miss the specific 13.28 timing criteria can still be decided based on those residual impairments rather than the transplant-only period.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For an SSDI claim, 13.28 provides a defined disability period based on the transplant: allogeneic transplantation is considered under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of transplantation (Subsection A), and autologous transplantation is considered under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of the first treatment under the plan that includes transplantation (Subsection B). After that period, continued evaluation depends on any residual impairments under the criteria for the affected body system, so the transplant history alone is not the entire picture. Trial work period and extended period of eligibility apply to approved beneficiaries through SSA's standard post-award work rules, rather than changing the 12-month transplant timing described in 13.28.
Listing 13.28 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for cancer treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation disability claims.