Listing code
112.02
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
Neurocognitive disorders (see 112.00B1 ), for children age 3 to attainment of age 18, satisfied by A and B, or A and C: Medical documentation of a clinically significant deviation in normal cognitive development or by significant cognitive decline from a prior level of functioning in one or more of the cognitive areas: Complex attention; Executive function; Learning and memory; Language; Perceptual-motor; or Social cognition. 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 112.02. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 112.02 usually fail
A common failure is having only the cognitive-decline/development medical evidence, but not the extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two in the four functional areas listed under 112.00F. Another failure is mixing up the cognitive areas (like executive function or language) with the functional areas SSA uses to measure day-to-day mental functioning (like understanding information or adapting oneself). Some applications also miss the alternative pathway within this category: "serious and persistent" neurocognitive disorder requires a medically documented history for at least 2 years plus both ongoing treatment/therapy/support or a highly structured setting and only marginal adjustment. Lastly, reports that describe symptoms without showing how they translate into the functional areas listed under 112.00F can fall short.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Strong documentation should include medical evidence supporting a clinically significant deviation in normal cognitive development or significant cognitive decline from a prior level of functioning in one or more of the listed cognitive areas: complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor, or social cognition. The file also needs evidence about functioning in the four mental-functioning areas used by SSA: understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and adapt or manage oneself, showing extreme limitation in one or marked limitation in two (see 112.00E1 through 112.00E4). For the "serious and persistent" alternative, documentation must show a medically documented history lasting at least 2 years plus both ongoing medical treatment/mental health therapy/psychosocial supports or a highly structured setting that diminishes symptoms and signs, and marginal adjustment.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
SSA first checks whether the case satisfies the listing's requirements for 112.02. If the extreme/marked functional pattern does not match, the case still can be decided using the child disability standard through the remaining steps, because the decision may rely on residual functional capacity and how the child functions in day-to-day activities instead of the exact listing combination. Claims that miss the listing often still progress if the medical evidence and functional limits show a level of impairment that is considered at a later step of the sequential process.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For a child SSDI/SSI claim, the work activity rules differ from adult work rules, and this listing is evaluated based on the neurocognitive disorder medical evidence plus the functional limits required for 112.02. The listing criteria focus on cognitive development or decline (complex attention, executive function, learning and memory, language, perceptual-motor, or social cognition) and require either extreme limitation in one area (understand/remember/apply; interact; concentrate/persist/maintain pace; adapt/manage oneself) or marked limitation in two areas. If the pattern instead fits the "serious and persistent" pathway, SSA requires at least a 2-year medically documented history, ongoing treatment/therapy/support or a highly structured setting that diminishes symptoms and signs, and evidence of marginal adjustment.
Listing 112.02 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for neurocognitive disorders disability claims.