Listing code
100.05
Children (Part B)
Body system
100.00
Low birth weight and failure to thrive
Subsections
3
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Failure to thrive in children from birth to attainment of age 3 (see 100.00C ), documented by A and B, or A and C.
Subsection A
Growth failure as required in 1 or 2: 1. For children from birth to attainment of age 2, three weight-for-length measurements that are: a. Within a consecutive 12-month period; and b. At least 60 days apart; and c. Less than the third percentile on the appropriate weight-for-length table under 105.08B1 ; or 2. For children age 2 to attainment of age 3, three BMI-for-age measurements that are: a. Within a consecutive 12-month period; and b. At least 60 days apart; and c. Less than the third percentile on the appropriate BMI-for-age table under 105.08B2 . AND
- For children from birth to attainment of age 2, three weight-for-length measurements that are:
- For children age 2 to attainment of age 3, three BMI-for-age measurements that are:
Subsection B
Developmental delay (see 100.00C1 and C3 ), established by an acceptable medical source and documented by findings from one current report of a standardized developmental assessment (see 100.00C3b ) that: 1. Shows development not more than two-thirds of the level typically expected for the child's age; or 2. Results in a valid score that is at least two standard deviations below the mean. OR
- Shows development not more than two-thirds of the level typically expected for the child's age; or
- Results in a valid score that is at least two standard deviations below the mean. OR
Subsection C
Developmental delay (see 100.00C3 ), established by an acceptable medical source and documented by findings from two narrative developmental reports (see 100.00C3c ) that: 1. Are dated at least 120 days apart (see 100.00C1 ); and 2. Indicate current development not more than two-thirds of the level typically expected for the child's age. Back to Top Support Contact us Find an office Forms Publications Report fraud Languages Español Other languages Plain language Services for Employers & businesses Government agencies Other groups Representatives About Careers Chief actuary data Communications Financial reports Initiatives Research & policy Social Security Administration <svg fill="currentColor" focusable="false" height="30" width="30" viewBox="0 0
- Are dated at least 120 days apart (see 100.00C1 ); and
- Indicate current development not more than two-thirds of the level typically expected for the child's age. Back to Top Support Contact us Find an office Forms Publications Report fraud Languages Español Other languages Plain language Services for Employers & businesses Government agencies Other groups Representatives About Careers Chief actuary data Communications Financial reports Initiatives Research & policy Social Security Administration <svg fill="currentColor" focusable="false" height="30" width="30" viewBox="0 0
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 100.05. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 100.05 usually fail
One frequent problem is using only one or two growth measurements instead of three measurements within a consecutive 12-month period, with each measurement at least 60 days apart, as required in Subsection A. Another pitfall is using the wrong growth metric for the age group (weight-for-length for birth to under age 2, versus BMI-for-age for age 2 to under age 3). A third failure mode is missing the developmental-delay format: Subsection B requires one current report from a standardized developmental assessment, while Subsection C requires two narrative developmental reports dated at least 120 days apart. A fourth pitfall is using developmental-test scores that do not match the listing thresholds (not more than two-thirds of expected level, or a valid score at least two standard deviations below the mean, depending on whether Subsection B or C is being used).
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
The documentation needs to come from an acceptable medical source and support both Subsection A and Subsection B or C. For Subsection A, the record should include three weight-for-length measurements (birth to attainment of age 2) or three BMI-for-age measurements (age 2 to attainment of age 3) that fall below the third percentile on the appropriate table under 105.08B1 or 105.08B2, with the measurements falling within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart. For Subsection B, the file needs one current report of a standardized developmental assessment showing development not more than two-thirds of what is typically expected for the child's age, or a valid score at least two standard deviations below the mean. For Subsection C, the file needs two narrative developmental reports, each reflecting current development not more than two-thirds of expected level, dated at least 120 days apart.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the growth measurements do not match Subsection A, or if developmental delay does not match Subsection B or C exactly, the claim will not meet this listing. In that situation, the process can still move forward by looking at the child's overall functional limitations, including how the documented growth failure and developmental delay affect functioning day to day. The medical evidence still matters, because the decision can rely on the combined picture even when the strict lettered thresholds are not met.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For children under 18, SSA uses the rules for disability evaluation based on medical listings, and this listing is specifically for failure to thrive from birth to attainment of age 3, requiring Subsection A growth failure plus Subsection B or C developmental delay. The listing's criteria are designed around repeated growth percentiles (below the third percentile using weight-for-length or BMI-for-age tables) and developmental delay shown by either one standardized assessment report (Subsection B) or two narrative developmental reports dated at least 120 days apart (Subsection C).
Listing 100.05 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for failure to thrive in children from birth to attainment of age 3 disability claims.