Listing code
11.02
Adult (Part A)
Body system
11.00
Neurological disorders
Subsections
4
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Epilepsy , documented by a detailed description of a typical seizure and characterized by A, B, C, or D:
Subsection A
Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (see 11.00H1a ), occurring at least once a month for at least 3 consecutive months (see 11.00H4 ) despite adherence to prescribed treatment (see 11.00C ). OR
Subsection B
Dyscognitive seizures (see 11.00H1b ), occurring at least once a week for at least 3 consecutive months (see 11.00H4 ) despite adherence to prescribed treatment (see 11.00C ).
Subsection C
OR C. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (see 11.00H1a ), occurring at least once every 2 months for at least 4 consecutive months (see 11.00H4 ) despite adherence to prescribed treatment (see 11.00C ); and a marked limitation in one of the following: Physical functioning (see 11.00G3a ); or Understanding, remembering, or applying information (see 11.00G3b(i) ); or Interacting with others (see 11.00G3b(ii) ); or Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace (see 11.00G3b(iii) ); or Adapting or managing oneself (see 11.00G3b(iv) ).
Subsection D
OR D. Dyscognitive seizures (see 11.00H1b ), occurring at least once every 2 weeks for at least 3 consecutive months (see 11.00H4 ) despite adherence to prescribed treatment (see 11.00C ); and a marked limitation in one of the following: Physical functioning (see 11.00G3a ); or Understanding, remembering, or applying information (see 11.00G3b(i) ); or Interacting with others (see 11.00G3b(ii) ); or Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace (see 11.00G3b(iii) ); or Adapting or managing oneself (see 11.00G3b(iv) ).
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 11.02. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 11.02 usually fail
One failure mode is not meeting the exact "despite adherence to prescribed treatment" requirement while using seizure frequency numbers that come from periods when treatment was changed, stopped, or not taken as prescribed. Another failure mode is missing the "detailed description of a typical seizure," which must include features like presence or absence of aura, tongue bites, sphincter control, injuries from the attack, and postictal phenomena. A third pitfall is mixing the frequency ranges across subsections, such as claiming a weekly pattern when the criteria for dyscognitive seizures under B require at least once a week for 3 consecutive months, or for C and D requiring the less frequent but combined-with-a-marked-limitation thresholds. A fourth pitfall is overlooking the extra functional requirement in subsections C and D, which require a marked limitation in one of the specified areas (physical functioning, or understanding/remembering/applying information, or interacting with others, or concentrating/persisting/maintaining pace, or adapting/managing oneself).
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
The most important evidence is a detailed description of a typical seizure. That description should cover whether there is an aura, whether there are tongue bites, sphincter control involvement, injuries associated with the attack, and postictal phenomena. The physician reporting the seizures should indicate how much of the description reflects the physician's own observations versus ancillary information, and testimony from other people is essential for seizure type and frequency when professional observation is not available. For meeting subsections A and C, documentation needs generalized tonic-clonic seizure frequency tied to at least 3 consecutive months (at least once a month) or at least 4 consecutive months (at least once every 2 months) plus adherence to prescribed treatment. For subsections B and D, documentation needs dyscognitive seizure frequency tied to at least 3 consecutive months (at least once a week) or at least 3 consecutive months with the "at least once every 2 weeks for at least 3 consecutive months" threshold under D, plus the functional marked limitation if C
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
If the exact seizure-frequency pattern and type details in subsections A through D do not match, the claim can still be decided later using the person's remaining ability to do work activities. After the listing step, the analysis looks at residual functional capacity (RFC) instead of requiring the specific lettered thresholds to be met. For many people, approval still depends on how the seizure disorder limits physical and mental functioning during everyday activities and sustained work tasks, not only on whether seizures have a particular count.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, work activity rules apply at the beginning of the claim. The listing criteria for epilepsy are built around detailed documentation of a typical seizure and specific frequency patterns despite adherence to prescribed treatment, and for subsections C and D the presence of a marked limitation in one of the specified functioning areas. If approved, work activity continues to be reviewed under SSA's trial work period and then later under extended period of eligibility, which allows work attempts even after benefits begin.
Listing 11.02 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for epilepsy , disability claims.