Listing code
112.15
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
Trauma- and stressor-related disorders (see 112.00B11 ), 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 or 2: Posttraumatic stress disorder, characterized by all of the following: Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence; Subsequent involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event (for example, intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks); Avoidance of external reminders of the event; Disturbance in mood and behavior (for example, developmental regression, socially withdrawn behavior); and Increases in arousal and reactivity (for example, exaggerated startle response, sleep disturbance). Reactive attachment disorder, characterized by two or all of the following: Rarely seeks comfort when distressed; Rarely responds to comfort when distressed; or Episodes of unexplained emotional distress. 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 ). 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 <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M15 30C23.2843 30 30 23.2843 30 15C30 6.71573 23.2843 0 15 0C6.71573 0 0 6.71573 0 15C0 23.2843 6.71573 30 15 30ZM23.0248 7.5H20.4935L16.3237 12.265L12.7203 7.5H7.5L13.735 15.6568L7.82269 22.4153H10.3576L14.9182 17.2021L18.9087 22.4153H24L17.4961 13.8175L23.0248 7.5ZM21.0062 20.9022H19.6043L10.4508 8.93416H11.9566L21.0062 20.9022Z" vector-eff
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 112.15. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 112.15 usually fail
A frequent failure mode is missing the required diagnosis features for post-traumatic stress disorder, like the combination of involuntary re-experiencing plus avoidance plus disturbance in mood and behavior plus increased arousal and reactivity. Another is mixing up criteria for reactive attachment disorder, which is based on rarely seeking comfort and rarely responding to comfort when distressed, plus episodes of unexplained emotional distress. Claims also miss when the functional part is not framed in terms of extreme limitation in one area or marked limitation in two areas of mental functioning (as SSA defines those areas within 112.00E1 to 112.00E4). A final pitfall is using an adult-focused description of PTSD without matching the child-specific "for age 3 to attainment of age 18" scope and without tying symptoms to the required mental functioning limits.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
SSA needs medical documentation that supports the diagnostic requirements for either post-traumatic stress disorder or reactive attachment disorder, and it must include evidence addressing the required mental functioning limitations. For post-traumatic stress disorder, the documentation should support exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or violence; subsequent involuntary re-experiencing (intrusive memories, dreams, or flashbacks); avoidance of external reminders; disturbance in mood and behavior (for example, developmental regression or socially withdrawn behavior); and increased arousal and reactivity (for example, exaggerated startle response or sleep disturbance). For reactive attachment disorder, documentation should show two or more of the listed features: rarely seeks comfort when distressed, rarely responds to comfort when distressed, and episodes of unexplained emotional distress. The listing also allows satisfaction of the "serious and persistent" pathway, which requires a medically documented history over at least 2 years plus evidence of ongoing mental
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the child does not meet the exact 112.15 criteria, SSA uses the child's overall level of functioning to assess whether the impairment still results in equivalent severe limits. The listing provides a specific combination of diagnosis features and functional limits (extreme limitation of one area or marked limitation of two areas, or a serious and persistent pattern with marginal adjustment). If those parts do not fully match, the claim can still proceed based on the overall residual functional picture that shows how the mental disorder limits daily functioning in the relevant mental functioning areas.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
This listing is for children ages 3 to attainment of age 18. It requires either the full diagnosis-based criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder or reactive attachment disorder plus the required level of limitation in the mental functioning areas, or a serious and persistent pattern with ongoing treatment or supports and marginal adjustment. After a child is found disabled under the program's process, SSA continues reviewing the situation over time, as with other impairments; the listing itself focuses on meeting the diagnostic requirements and the severity of mental functioning limits (extreme limitation of one area or marked limitation of two, or the serious and persistent pathway).
Listing 112.15 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for trauma- and stressor-related disorders disability claims.