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Social Security disability for catastrophic congenital DIS: Blue Book listing 110.08

Listing 110.08 is the SSA Blue Book criteria SSA uses for catastrophic congenital DIS childhood disability claims. Meeting it at step 3 of the disability evaluation approves the claim without further analysis of past work or other jobs in the national economy. This page covers what SSA looks for, the medical evidence the criteria require, and what happens if your records don't quite match.

Listing code

110.08

Children (Part B)

Body system

110.00

Congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems (children)

Subsections

2

Lettered criteria paths

Step in evaluation

3 of 5

Listing match approves the claim

SSA listing text and criteria

A catastrophic congenital disorder (see 110.00D and 110.00E ) with:

Subsection A

Death usually expected within the first months of life. OR

Subsection B

Very serious interference with development or functioning. Back to Top Support Contact us Find an office Forms Publications Report fraud Languages Espa&ntilde;ol 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 SSA.gov An official website of the Social Security Administration <

Source: SSA Blue Book listing 110.08. Last synced 2026-05-04.

Where claims under 110.08 usually fail

Many claims fail because they do not fit either subsection A or subsection B as written. Another failure mode is relying on general descriptions of severity without tying the child's case to either expected early death or very serious interference with development or functioning. Some people assume the evidence requirements for non-mosaic Down syndrome (110.06) apply to 110.08, but 110.08 is a separate category for catastrophic congenital disorders. Finally, missing the multiple-body-systems framing can lead to submitting evidence focused on a single problem area instead of the overall catastrophic congenital disorder picture.

Medical evidence that strengthens this claim

Documentation should support the catastrophic nature described in subsection A (death usually expected within the first months of life) or subsection B (very serious interference with development or functioning). Evidence may include medical records that describe the child's overall condition and functional impact, not just a diagnosis label. The evidence needs to match the level of interference stated in subsection B, or the expected timing described in subsection A. No specific test names are listed for 110.08 in the provided criteria, so the focus is on medical documentation that shows the child meets the catastrophic threshold described in A or B.

What happens if your records do not meet this listing

If 110.08 is not met, SSA can still find disability under the child rules using the child's overall medical and functional limitations. The key idea is that even when a listing-level match is not found, the decision can still consider how much the condition interferes with functioning compared with what the child can do. For congenital disorders under 110.00, the evaluation centers on whether the severity is enough to be disabling even without an exact listing match.

Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition

For children under 18 in Part B, this listing is evaluated under 110.08 based on catastrophic congenital disorder criteria in subsection A or subsection B. The listing does not include a work-incentive gate for children because these rules are not written as an adult substantial gainful activity test. Trial work periods and extended periods of eligibility apply only to the SSDI adult work framework, not to the Part B child listing criteria shown here. For eligibility under 110.08, the medical severity must align with either death usually expected within the first months of life (subsection A) or very serious interference with development or functioning (subsection B).

Listing 110.08 FAQ

Questions that come up repeatedly for a catastrophic congenital disorder disability claims.