Listing code
13.06
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
Leukemia. (See 13.00K2 .)
Subsection A
Acute leukemia (including T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma). Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system. OR
Subsection B
Chronic myelogenous leukemia, as described in 1 or 2: 1. Accelerated or blast phase (see 13.00K2b ). Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system. 2. Chronic phase, as described in a or b: a. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system. b. Progressive disease following initial anticancer therapy.
- Accelerated or blast phase (see 13.00K2b ). Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
- Chronic phase, as described in a or b:
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 13.06. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 13.06 usually fail
A frequent failure mode is not matching the leukemia subtype to the right lettered pathway in 13.06, such as confusing acute leukemia with chronic myelogenous leukemia in accelerated or blast phase versus chronic phase. Another pitfall is missing the timing triggers SSA uses, like the 24-month and 12-month windows tied to diagnosis or relapse, or to bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Some claims fail when documentation does not support the phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (accelerated or blast phase, or chronic phase with either the specific chronic timeframe or progressive disease after initial anticancer therapy). A final pitfall is assuming the listing ends at diagnosis, instead of recognizing the instruction to evaluate residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system after the stated minimum period.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Cancer evidence generally needs to specify the type, extent, and site of the primary, recurrent, or metastatic lesion. For operative procedures like biopsy or needle aspiration, SSA generally needs a copy of both the operative note and the pathology report, and if those documents cannot be obtained, SSA accepts summaries of hospitalization or other medical reports that include the findings at surgery and, when appropriate, the pathological findings. For leukemia specifically under 13.06, documentation should support whether the condition is acute leukemia, or chronic myelogenous leukemia in accelerated or blast phase, or chronic phase, including any progressive disease following initial anticancer therapy. Documentation that ties dates to diagnosis, relapse, and any bone marrow or stem cell transplantation is critical because the listing uses those timepoints to decide when disability consideration applies and when to move to residual impairments.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If 13.06 does not fully fit, the disability evaluation can still continue using later steps that consider residual impairment(s) and how they affect functioning. The listing itself states that after the minimum time period for acute leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia phases, any residual impairment(s) are evaluated under the criteria for the affected body system. That means claims that miss the exact 13.06 timing or phase classification may still succeed if the remaining problems after treatment meet criteria in the relevant body-system listings. After that, residual functional limits are assessed through the usual sequential evaluation process rather than treating the cancer diagnosis alone as sufficient forever.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
With leukemia, the start of an SSDI claim still involves whether work activity is at substantial gainful activity level, and that applies before any listing comparison. If 13.06 criteria are met, the listing directs disability evaluation for a minimum period based on acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia accelerated or blast phase, or chronic phase, with later evaluation of residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system. After a favorable decision, work is handled through standard SSA work rules such as trial work period and extended period of eligibility. These work-incentive concepts apply regardless of the specific remission status beyond how residual impairment(s) are evaluated under the affected body system after the listing's stated minimum timeframes.
Listing 13.06 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for leukemia disability claims.