Listing code
104.05
Children (Part B)
Body system
104.00
Cardiovascular system (children)
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Recurrent arrhythmias, not related to reversible causes such as electrolyte abnormalities or digitalis glycoside or antiarrhythmic drug toxicity, resulting in uncontrolled (see 104.00A3g ), recurrent (see 104.00A3c ) episodes of cardiac syncope or near syncope (see 104.00E3b ), despite prescribed treatment (see 104.00B3 if there is no prescribed treatment), and documented by resting or ambulatory (Holter) electrocardiography, or by other appropriate medically acceptable testing, coincident with the occurrence of syncope or near syncope (see 104.00E3c ). Back to Top
This listing has no lettered subsections. The diagnosis itself, supported by the medical evidence described in the body-system overview, is what SSA evaluates.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 104.05. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 104.05 usually fail
One failure mode is blaming the episodes on a reversible cause that the listing excludes, such as electrolyte abnormalities or toxicity from digitalis glycoside or antiarrhythmic drugs. Another is missing the timing requirement, since the heart rhythm documentation needs to be coincident with the syncope or near syncope and not just from a study done at a different time. A third pitfall is skipping the treatment piece, because the listing requires uncontrolled recurrent episodes despite prescribed treatment (or, if there is no prescribed treatment, the listing still expects the clinical picture to meet the episode requirements). A fourth pitfall is relying on symptoms without the required objective documentation, since the listing requires resting or ambulatory (Holter) electrocardiography, or other appropriate medically acceptable testing, showing the arrhythmia occurring with the fainting or near-fainting episode.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Look for medical records that tie together all required elements: (1) a diagnosis of recurrent arrhythmias, (2) evidence that the episodes are not due to reversible causes such as electrolyte abnormalities or digitalis glycoside or antiarrhythmic drug toxicity, (3) a history of recurrent syncope or near syncope described as uncontrolled despite prescribed treatment, and (4) objective documentation showing the arrhythmia coincident with each syncope or near syncope episode. Resting electrocardiography and ambulatory (Holter) electrocardiography are specifically named, and other appropriate medically acceptable testing can be used to document the rhythm disturbance occurring at the same time as the fainting or near-fainting event.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the required combination is not met, SSA will move on to the next step for children, which is assessing the child's functional limitations. This listing is built around a very specific pattern (recurrent uncontrolled syncope or near syncope caused by arrhythmias, not from reversible causes, and documented coincident with the episodes). Even if a child does not meet the listing wording, the claim can still be approved later if the overall medical evidence supports that the condition results in severe functional limitations.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For a new SSDI claim, work activity can affect eligibility at the start of the case under SSA's general rules. This listing is about children under 18 with uncontrolled recurrent syncope or near syncope tied to arrhythmias, documented by electrocardiography (resting or ambulatory/Holter) coincident with symptoms, and occurring despite prescribed treatment. Because this listing requires recurrent fainting or near-fainting and objective rhythm documentation, it generally indicates major limits in basic functioning when symptoms occur, but the final work-impact determination still depends on the child's overall functional limitations in the case.
Listing 104.05 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for recurrent arrhythmias, not related to reversible causes such as electrolyte abnormalities or digitalis glycoside or antiarrhythmic drug toxicity, resulting in uncontrolled disability claims.