Listing code
5.02
Adult (Part A)
Body system
5.00
Digestive system
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging from any cause, requiring three blood transfusions of at least 2 units of blood per transfusion, within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 30 days apart. Consider under a disability for 1 year following the last documented transfusion; 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 5.02. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 5.02 usually fail
Missing the number is a common failure mode, because the criterion requires three transfusions. Another pitfall is not meeting the unit amount, since each transfusion must be at least 2 units of blood. Timing errors also cause denials, because all three transfusions must be within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 30 days apart. Some claims fail when the medical record shows GI bleeding but does not include enough transfusion documentation to support the exact pattern required.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Strong documentation is the transfusion record itself showing three separate transfusions of at least 2 units per transfusion. The evidence must also connect the bleeding to the gastrointestinal tract and describe it as hemorrhaging from any cause. The digestive disorder evidence SSA uses in this body system can include medical history, physical exam findings, relevant laboratory findings, and diagnostic procedure results such as imaging and endoscopy, but the decisive item for this listing is the documented transfusion schedule and unit counts.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the transfusion pattern does not match 5.02 exactly, eligibility may still be evaluated based on the residual impairment(s) from the gastrointestinal bleeding after the last documented transfusion. SSA can also evaluate other digestive listings in the same body system (for example, listings for other digestive disorders or related digestive problems) when the evidence fits those criteria more closely. Meeting 5.02 is not the only possible path if the remaining medical issues still limit work.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, work activity at the start of the claim can still be an issue. After that, getting a favorable decision under 5.02 depends on the medical criterion of gastrointestinal hemorrhaging requiring three transfusions of at least 2 units each within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 30 days apart. The listing is considered for 1 year following the last documented transfusion; after that, SSA evaluates residual impairment(s) rather than the transfusion events alone. Extended work-related eligibility rules and any later reviews depend on how the claim is decided and how limitations persist over time, not on transfusion timing alone.
Listing 5.02 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for gastrointestinal hemorrhaging from any cause, requiring three blood transfusions of at least 2 units of blood per transfusion, within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 30 days apart disability claims.