Listing code
5.08
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
Weight loss due to any digestive disorder (see 5.00F ), despite adherence to prescribed medical treatment, with BMI of less than 17.50 calculated on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart within a consecutive 12-month period.
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 5.08. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 5.08 usually fail
One pitfall is using only a single BMI measurement, since 5.08 requires BMI of less than 17.50 calculated on at least two evaluations. Another pitfall is having two measurements that are too close together, since the evaluations must be at least 60 days apart within a consecutive 12-month period. A third pitfall is focusing on the diagnosis without the weight-loss-and-treatment link, because SSA requires weight loss due to a digestive disorder despite adherence to prescribed medical treatment. A fourth pitfall is mixing up the body-system scope, since this listing is specifically in the digestive disorder group and other digestive listings (for example, hemorrhaging or intestinal failure) may fit different situations better.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Bring medical evidence that supports both the digestive disorder and the severity reflected by weight loss. Medical evidence can include medical history, physical examination findings, operative reports, and relevant laboratory findings, along with laboratory reports such as results of imaging, endoscopy, and other diagnostic procedures when available. BMI numbers need to be available from at least two evaluations with BMI calculated under 17.50, and the dates must show they are at least 60 days apart within a consecutive 12-month period.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the weight loss is present but the BMI requirement is not met (for example, BMI is 17.50 or higher, or the two measurements are not spaced by at least 60 days within a consecutive 12-month period), this specific listing will not be met. Claims that do not meet a listing can still be approved if the overall evidence shows limitations that prevent work, through the step that considers residual functional capacity (RFC) and then compares work capacity to what jobs require. For many people, especially those with longer work histories or who are older, that functional comparison can still lead to a favorable decision even when a specific listing is missed.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, eligibility depends on disability, and SGA is relevant in the period before a fully favorable determination: performing substantial work activity can affect whether the claim is considered disabling during that time. With a digestive-disorder weight-loss case, the practical question becomes whether the documented weight loss due to the digestive disorder despite adherence to prescribed medical treatment produces limitations consistent with not being able to sustain work. After approval, SSA generally uses continued work and earnings to determine ongoing eligibility, applying the usual rules for work activity rather than the listing's BMI threshold alone. The listing requirement itself is weight loss due to a digestive disorder despite prescribed medical treatment with BMI under 17.50 on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart within a consecutive 12-month period.
Listing 5.08 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for weight loss due to any digestive disorder disability claims.