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Social Security disability for liver transplant: Blue Book listing 105.09

Listing 105.09 is the SSA Blue Book criteria SSA uses for liver transplant childhood disability claims. Meeting it at step 3 of the disability evaluation approves the claim without further analysis of past work or other jobs in the national economy. This page covers what SSA looks for, the medical evidence the criteria require, and what happens if your records don't quite match.

Listing code

105.09

Children (Part B)

Body system

105.00

Digestive system (children)

Subsections

0

No lettered criteria

Step in evaluation

3 of 5

Listing match approves the claim

SSA listing text and criteria

Liver transplantation (see 105.00G ). Consider under a disability for 1 year from the date of the transplant; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).

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 105.09. Last synced 2026-05-04.

Where claims under 105.09 usually fail

Many claims fail because the file does not clearly establish the transplant event and timing for the child under 18, even if there are serious liver problems. Another failure mode is relying on general liver disease information without showing the transplant itself. Claims can also miss because SSA expects medical evidence about severity, which in this digestive system includes items like operative reports and relevant laboratory findings. After the first year from the transplant date, the claim can fail if the submission does not address the residual impairment(s) that continue.

Medical evidence that strengthens this claim

Medical evidence that helps includes medical history, physical exam findings, operative reports, and relevant laboratory findings, because these are the types of evidence SSA uses to evaluate digestive disorders in general. Lab and pathology results may also be needed for severity assessment. If available, diagnostic procedure reports tied to the transplant and follow-up care can support the diagnosis and severity, using the same types of medical evidence listed for this digestive system evaluation.

What happens if your records do not meet this listing

Liver transplantation under this listing is evaluated for 1 year from the transplant date, and after that SSA evaluates the residual impairment(s). If a claim does not fit the transplant timing for the 1-year period, the decision focuses on what lasting impairments remain. For serious digestive dysfunction, other listings in the same body system may be considered based on the child's underlying digestive disorder(s) and their severity.

Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition

For SSDI, SSA uses the work-activity rules at the start of any claim, then evaluates the medical evidence. For this condition, SSA specifically evaluates liver transplantation for 1 year from the date of the transplant for children under 18, then evaluates residual impairment(s) after that period. The listing is not broken into lettered subsections, so the medical evidence should support the transplant event and then the continuing impairments once the 1-year evaluation window has passed.

Listing 105.09 FAQ

Questions that come up repeatedly for liver transplantation disability claims.