Listing code
112.04
Children (Part B)
Body system
112.00
Mental disorders (children)
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Depressive, bipolar and related disorders (see 112.00B3 ), for children age 3 to attainment of age 18, satisfied by A and B, or A and C: Medical documentation of the requirements of paragraph 1, 2, or 3: Depressive disorder, characterized by five or more of the following: Depressed or irritable mood; Diminished interest in almost all activities; Appetite disturbance with change in weight (or a failure to achieve an expected weight gain); Sleep disturbance; Observable psychomotor agitation or retardation; Decreased energy; Feelings of guilt or worthlessness; Difficulty concentrating or thinking; or Thoughts of death or suicide. Bipolar disorder, characterized by three or more of the following: Pressured speech; Flight of ideas; Inflated self-esteem; Decreased need for sleep; Distractibility; Involvement in activities that have a high probability of painful consequences that are not recognized; or Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, beginning prior to age 10, and all of the following: Persistent, significant irritability or anger; Frequent, developmentally inconsistent temper outbursts; and Frequent aggressive or destructive behavior. AND Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 112.00F ): Understand, remember, or apply information (see 112.00E1 ). Interact with others (see 112.00E2 ). Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 112.00E3 ). Adapt or manage oneself (see 112.00E4 ). OR Your mental disorder in this listing category is "serious and persistent;" that is, you have a medically documented history of the existence of the disorder over a period of at least 2 years, and there is evidence of both: Medical treatment, mental health therapy, psychosocial support(s), or a highly structured setting(s) that is ongoing and that diminishes the symptoms and signs of your mental disorder (see 112.00G2b ); and Marginal adjustment, that is, you have minimal capacity to adapt to changes in your environment or to demands that are not already part of your daily life (see 112.00G2c ).
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 112.04. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 112.04 usually fail
A common failure is having fewer than the required number of symptoms from the depressive or bipolar checklists (five for depressive disorder, three for bipolar disorder) or missing a key feature of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, such as the combination of persistent irritability/anger, frequent developmentally inconsistent temper outbursts, and frequent aggressive or destructive behavior beginning prior to age 10. Another failure mode is mixing up the disorder criteria, for example using depressive symptoms to try to satisfy bipolar requirements, or using bipolar features to satisfy disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Many claims also miss the second major half of the listing, which requires extreme limitation in one mental functioning area or marked limitation in two areas. Finally, claims often overlook the alternative 'serious and persistent' route, which requires a medically documented history over at least 2 years plus both ongoing treatment/therapy/support (or a highly structured setting) that diminishes symptoms and evidence of only marginal adjustment.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical documentation needs to cover the symptom pattern in the listing: for depressive disorder, at least five of the listed items such as depressed or irritable mood, diminished interest, appetite or weight-change issues, sleep disturbance, psychomotor agitation or retardation, decreased energy, guilt or worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or thinking, or thoughts of death or suicide. For bipolar disorder, medical documentation should support at least three items such as pressured speech, flight of ideas, inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, risky activities not recognized as such, or increased goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation. For disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, documentation should show the onset prior to age 10 and include persistent significant irritability or anger, frequent developmentally inconsistent temper outbursts, and frequent aggressive or destructive behavior. In addition, documentation has to support the level of limitation in mental functioning areas (extreme in one or marked in two) or the separate 'serious and
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
Step 4 and 5 are separate ways SSA can still find disability even if every listing detail is not met. Step 4 is about how the child functions in day-to-day activities using the mental functioning areas listed for children. Step 5 looks at the overall impact, including whether the child still has enough functional ability to be able to do age-appropriate activities despite the condition; approval can occur when the combined limitations are severe even if the exact listing symptom counts or the exact limitation pattern do not all line up.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For an SSDI claim, work activity is considered under the rules SSA applies to whether earnings show the child is working at a level that counts as substantial. The listing itself focuses on depressive, bipolar, or disruptive mood dysregulation disorder symptom patterns plus extreme or marked limits in the four mental functioning areas (understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; adapt or manage oneself), or the 'serious and persistent' standard with a medically documented 2-year history, ongoing treatment or highly structured supports that diminish symptoms, and evidence of marginal adjustment. For approved claims, SGA work rules continue to apply after disability is found, including trial work-like and follow-on eligibility rules that let people test ability to work while still protecting benefits for those who qualify.
Listing 112.04 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for depressive, bipolar and related disorders disability claims.