Listing code
12.10
Adult (Part A)
Body system
12.00
Mental disorders
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Autism spectrum disorder (see 12.00B8 ), satisfied by A and B: Medical documentation of both of the following: Qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction; and Significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. AND Extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning (see 12.00F ): Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1 ). Interact with others (see 12.00E2 ). Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3 ). Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4 ).
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 12.10. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 12.10 usually fail
One failure mode is having medical documentation for autism traits but not documenting both the communication/social deficits AND the significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Another is mixing up the requirements for the four areas of mental functioning, such as showing only one limited area when the criteria call for extreme limitation in one area or marked limitation in two areas. A third pitfall is describing problems that sound real but not tying them to the work-related mental functioning areas SSA uses: understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and adapt or manage oneself. A fourth pitfall is relying on the diagnosis without matching it to the specific qualitative deficits and repetitive pattern findings SSA requires under the medical-criteria portion of 12.10.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical documentation must support the two medical-criteria components: qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction, and significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The record also needs medical support for the functional-degree requirement: extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, in the four mental functioning areas SSA uses for code 12.10 (understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; adapt or manage oneself). The listing does not include lettered subparts for 12.10, so the critical evidence is not organized into subsections; it needs to clearly address those required domains and the level of limitation in at least two of them (or one at an extreme level).
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the full criteria for 12.10 are not met, SSA still considers how the impairment affects functioning. The next step is to evaluate whether a person can work despite the limitations, using the four areas of mental functioning SSA assesses for mental disorder listings. This means many claims that do not satisfy the exact extreme-or-marked pattern still may be evaluated based on the overall functional limits when deciding the ability to perform work activities.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For an SSDI claim, work activity has to be below the substantial gainful activity threshold at the start of the case, and the assessment continues alongside medical evidence. For autism spectrum disorder under 12.10, SSA focuses on whether medical evidence shows both required medical criteria (qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction, and significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities) and whether there is extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two mental functioning areas (understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; adapt or manage oneself). If approval happens, continued eligibility and work-related rules follow the usual disability process for people who have been found disabled under SSDI, including trial work and extended-
Listing 12.10 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for autism spectrum disorder disability claims.