Listing code
111.21
Children (Part B)
Body system
111.00
Neurological disorders (children)
Subsections
0
No lettered criteria
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Multiple sclerosis , characterized by disorganization of motor function in two extremities (see 111.00D1 ), resulting in an extreme limitation (see 111.00D2 ) in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper extremities.
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 111.21. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 111.21 usually fail
One pitfall is relying on a diagnosis code name without showing the motor problem described as disorganization of motor function in two extremities. Another pitfall is focusing on symptoms but not connecting them to extreme limitation in standing up from seated position, balancing while standing or walking, or using the upper extremities. A further issue is assuming imaging or lab results can stand in for the functional limitations; SSA evaluates the impact of the neurological disease process itself. Finally, mixing up other neurological disorders in the same children neurological listings can lead to the wrong criteria being assessed for the specific MS motor and extreme functional limitations.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Medical evidence should include medical history and examination findings, relevant laboratory findings, and results of imaging such as MRI (and EEG where relevant to the overall neurologic evaluation). Evidence can also include descriptions of prescribed treatment and how the child responds to it. Non-medical evidence can include statements about restrictions, daily activities, and (for an adolescent) efforts to work, to help show how the MS affects standing up, standing or walking balance, and upper-extremity use. When evaluating MS, the key is documentation that supports disorganization of motor function in two extremities and that the resulting limitations are extreme for the specified abilities.
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the extreme limitation in the abilities listed in the criteria (standing up from seated, standing or walking balance, or using the upper extremities) is not supported at the same time as disorganized motor function in two extremities, the listing criteria will not be met. The claim can still succeed under step 4 and step 5 of the disability process by evaluating functional effects through functional equivalence, based on all medical and non-medical evidence of how the neurological disorder impacts functioning. When functional limits do not match a listing, the focus shifts to how severe the overall limitations are in practice.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI in general, work activity is an important gate early in the claim process, and the child claimant's ability to engage in work depends on the functional limitations caused by the condition. This listing describes an extreme limitation in standing up from a seated position, balancing while standing or walking, or using the upper extremities due to disorganization of motor function in two extremities from multiple sclerosis. That level of limitation is the type of effect that would typically make sustained functional work capacity difficult, but the actual evaluation still depends on the evidence of how the child functions in daily life and any work efforts (where applicable). If the claim is approved, continued eligibility rules then apply through trial work and extended eligibility periods, following the usual disability program process.
Listing 111.21 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for multiple sclerosis , characterized by disorganization of motor function in two extremities disability claims.