Listing code
114.09
Children (Part B)
Body system
114.00
Immune system disorders (children)
Subsections
3
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Inflammatory arthritis . As described in 114.00D6 . With:
Subsection A
Persistent inflammation or persistent deformity of: 1. One or more major joints in a lower extremity (see 114.00C8 ) and medical documentation of at least one of the following: A documented medical need (see 114.00C6 ) for a walker, bilateral canes, or bilateral crutches (see 101.00C6d ) or a wheeled and seated mobility device involving the use of both hands (see 101.00C6e(i) ); or An inability to use one upper extremity to independently initiate, sustain, and complete age-appropriate activities involving fine and gross movements (see 114.00C7 ), and a documented medical need (see 114.00C6 ) for a one-handed, hand-held assistive device (see 101.00C6d ) that requires the use of the other upper extremity or a wheeled and seated mobility device involving the use of one hand (see 101.00C6e(ii) ); or 2. One or more major joints in each upper extremity 114.00C7 ).-->(see 114.00C8 ) and medical documentation of an inability to use both upper extremities to the extent that neither can be used to independently initiate, sustain, and complete age-appropriate activities involving fine and gross movements (see 114.00C7 ); or OR -->
- One or more major joints in a lower extremity (see 114.00C8 ) and medical documentation of at least one of the following: A documented medical need (see 114.00C6 ) for a walker, bilateral canes, or bilateral crutches (see 101.00C6d ) or a wheeled and seated mobility device involving the use of both hands (see 101.00C6e(i) ); or An inability to use one upper extremity to independently initiate, sustain, and complete age-appropriate activities involving fine and gross movements (see 114.00C7 ), and a documented medical need (see 114.00C6 ) for a one-handed, hand-held assistive device (see 101.00C6d ) that requires the use of the other upper extremity or a wheeled and seated mobility device involving the use of one hand (see 101.00C6e(ii) ); or
- One or more major joints in each upper extremity 114.00C7 ).-->(see 114.00C8 ) and medical documentation of an inability to use both upper extremities to the extent that neither can be used to independently initiate, sustain, and complete age-appropriate activities involving fine and gross movements (see 114.00C7 ); or OR -->
Subsection B
Inflammation or deformity in one or more major joints of an upper or lower extremity (see 114.00C8 ) with: 1. Involvement of two or more organs/body systems with one of the organs/body systems involved to at least a moderate level of severity; and 2. At least two of the constitutional symptoms or signs (severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss). Back to Top OR
- Involvement of two or more organs/body systems with one of the organs/body systems involved to at least a moderate level of severity; and
- At least two of the constitutional symptoms or signs (severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss). Back to Top OR
Subsection C
Ankylosing spondylitis or other spondyloarthropathies, with: 1. Ankylosis (fixation) of the dorsolumbar or cervical spine as shown by appropriate medically acceptable imaging and measured on physical examination at 45° or more of flexion from the vertical position (zero degrees); or 2. Ankylosis (fixation) of the dorsolumbar or cervical spine as shown by appropriate medically acceptable imaging and measured on physical examination at 30° or more of flexion (but less than 45°) measured from the vertical position (zero degrees), and involvement of two or more organs/body systems with one of the organs/body systems involved to at least a moderate level of severity. Back to Top
- Ankylosis (fixation) of the dorsolumbar or cervical spine as shown by appropriate medically acceptable imaging and measured on physical examination at 45° or more of flexion from the vertical position (zero degrees); or
- Ankylosis (fixation) of the dorsolumbar or cervical spine as shown by appropriate medically acceptable imaging and measured on physical examination at 30° or more of flexion (but less than 45°) measured from the vertical position (zero degrees), and involvement of two or more organs/body systems with one of the organs/body systems involved to at least a moderate level of severity. Back to Top
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 114.09. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 114.09 usually fail
A common miss is focusing on joint pain without meeting the listing's required combination of findings, such as persistent inflammation or deformity plus the specific mobility or hand-use documentation in Subsection A. Another common failure is using equipment needs incorrectly, since Subsection A requires specific medical-need wording and specific device hand-use rules (walker/bilateral canes/bilateral crutches, or a wheeled and seated mobility device involving both hands or one hand, matched to which upper extremity can be used). People also miss Subsection B by not having both the two-or-more-organ/body-system involvement at at least a moderate level and at least two constitutional symptoms or signs from the specified list. For Subsection C, a frequent problem is not having the spine fixation measured to the required flexion thresholds on physical exam (45 or more from vertical, or 30 or more but less than 45) along with medically acceptable imaging showing ankylosis.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Documentation is most persuasive when it matches the exact pathway being claimed under 114.09. For Subsection A, medical documentation should link persistent inflammation or persistent deformity of the needed major joints (lower extremity major joints, or major joints in each upper extremity) to either a documented medical need for a walker, bilateral canes, bilateral crutches, or a wheeled and seated mobility device with the required hand-use involvement (both hands or one hand), or to an inability to use one or both upper extremities to independently initiate, sustain, and complete age-appropriate activities involving fine and gross movements, along with the corresponding assistive-device need (one-handed, hand-held assistive device requiring use of the other upper extremity, or the one-hand wheeled and seated device rule). For Subsection B, records should document involvement of two or more organs/body systems with one at least moderate severity and list at least two constitutional symptoms or signs from severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss. For Subsection C,
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
When the full 114.09 criteria are not met, the claim can still proceed based on what the child can do despite the condition. The medical evidence is used to describe the child's functional limits, and the decision looks at whether the limitations are severe enough based on the child's overall ability to function. Many claims that do not match a lettered subsection still have medical documentation of serious impairments, which can matter later if the case-level functional picture is strong.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
SSA uses the usual work-activity concept in disability decisions, but this listing is specifically for children under 18 (Part B). Because inflammatory arthritis is evaluated through medical criteria like persistent joint inflammation or deformity with specific mobility and hand-use needs (Subsection A), multi-system involvement with constitutional symptoms (Subsection B), or spine ankylosis with measured flexion thresholds (Subsection C), the key question for this condition is whether the medical documentation shows those specific required findings for a child.
Listing 114.09 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for inflammatory arthritis disability claims.