Listing code
103.04
Children (Part B)
Body system
103.00
Respiratory disorders (children)
Subsections
7
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Cystic fibrosis . (documented as described in 103.00H ), with A, B, C, D, E, F, or G:
Subsection A
FEV 1 (see 103.00E ) less than or equal to the value in Table III-A or Table III-B for your age, sex, and height without shoes (see 103.00E3a ). Table III: FEV 1 Criteria for 103.04A Table III-A Age 6 to attainment of age 13 (For both females and males) Height without shoes (centimeters) < means less than Height without shoes (inches) < means less than FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) <123.0 <48.50 1.00 123.0 to <129.0 48.50 to <50.75 1.15 129.0 to <134.0 50.75 to <52.75 1.25 134.0 to <139.0 52.75 to <54.75 1.40 139.0 to <144.0 54.75 to <56.75 1.50 144.0 to <149.0 56.75 to <58.75 1.70 149.0 or more 58.75 or more 1.80 Table III-B Age 13 to attainment of age 18 Height without shoes (centimeters) < means less than Height without shoes (inches) < means less than Females FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) Males FEV 1 less than or equal to (L, BTPS) <153.0 <60.25 1.75 1.85 153.0 to <159.0 60.25 to <62.50 1.85 2.05 159.0 to <164.0 62.50 to <64.50 1.95 2.15 164.0 to <169.0 64.50 to <66.50 2.10 2.30 169.0 to <174.0 66.50 to <68.50 2.25 2.45 174.0 to <180.0 68.50 to <70.75 2.35 2.60 180.0 or more 70.75 or more 2.50 2.70 OR
Subsection B
For children who have not attained age 6, findings on imaging (see 103.00D3 ) of thickening of the proximal bronchial airways, nodular-cystic lesions, segmental or lobular atelectasis, or consolidation, and documentation of one of the following: Shortness of breath with activity; or Accumulation of secretions as manifested by repetitive coughing; or Bilateral rales or rhonchi, or reduction of breath sounds. OR
Subsection C
Exacerbations or complications (see 103.00H3 ) requiring three hospitalizations of any length within a 12-month period and at least 30 days apart (the 12-month period must occur within the period we are considering in connection with your application or continuing disability review). OR
Subsection D
Spontaneous pneumothorax, secondary to CF, requiring chest tube placement. OR
Subsection E
Respiratory failure (see 103.00J ) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation with BiPAP, or a combination of both treatments, for a continuous period of at least 48 hours, or for a continuous period of at least 72 hours if postoperatively. OR
Subsection F
Pulmonary hemorrhage requiring vascular embolization to control bleeding. OR
Subsection G
Two of the following exacerbations or complications (either two of the same or two different, see 103.00H3 and 103.00H4 ) within a 12-month period (the 12-month period must occur within the period we are considering in connection with your application or continuing disability review): Pulmonary exacerbation requiring 10 consecutive days of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Pulmonary hemorrhage (hemoptysis with more than blood-streaked sputum but not requiring vascular embolization) requiring hospitalization of any length. Weight loss requiring daily supplemental enteral nutrition via a gastrostomy for at least 90 consecutive days or parenteral nutrition via a central venous catheter for at least 90 consecutive days. CFRD requiring daily insulin therapy for at least 90 consecutive days.
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 103.04. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 103.04 usually fail
A frequent failure is skipping the required lettered criterion and only submitting a cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Another is using FEV 1 numbers without matching the correct table for the child's age range (6 to 13 versus 13 to 18) and without the required measurement conditions (no shoes) because the cutoff changes by height. Some claims miss because they meet symptoms but not the specific structure in 103.04B, which requires imaging of proximal bronchial thickening, nodular-cystic lesions, segmental or lobular atelectasis, or consolidation AND documentation of one of the specified clinical findings. Other denials happen when hospitalizations or treatments do not match the exact timing and minimum counts in 103.04C (three hospitalizations within a 12-month period, at least 30 days apart) or the two-exacerbation rule in 103.04G.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
Good evidence depends on which subsection is used. For 103.04A, the record needs an FEV 1 value and it must be low enough for the child's age and sex and height (measured without shoes) to match the Table III-A or Table III-B cutoff. For 103.04B (children under age 6), the record needs imaging showing thickening of proximal bronchial airways, nodular-cystic lesions, segmental or lobular atelectasis, or consolidation, plus documentation of one of these: shortness of breath with activity, repetitive coughing from secretions, bilateral rales or rhonchi, or reduced breath sounds. For 103.04C and 103.04G, the key evidence is hospitalization records and the timing across the 12-month period (three hospitalizations at least 30 days apart for C, or two qualifying exacerbations/complications within the 12-month period for G). For 103.04D, 103.04E, and 103.04F, the record should show the specific event and the required treatment: spontaneous pneumothorax needing chest tube placement; respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and/or noninvasive ventilation with BiPAP for at/
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
SSA first checks whether the child has cystic fibrosis documented as required for 103.00H, and whether one of the lettered criteria A through G is met. If none of the lettered criteria A through G fit, SSA still considers whether the child's remaining functional limitations are severe enough through the disability evaluation steps that follow. Many claims that miss a strict Blue Book trigger can still proceed if the medical evidence shows an equivalent level of severity in the next steps.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
For SSDI, work activity is evaluated against the SGA rules at the start of the claim. This listing describes severe cystic fibrosis findings such as very low FEV 1 for age/height (103.04A) or major events like respiratory failure needing invasive or BiPAP support for at least 48 hours (103.04E), and those types of limits often make sustained work difficult, but SGA rules still apply the same way to any condition. If disability is approved, the trial work period and extended period of eligibility rules then determine how work income affects ongoing eligibility.
Listing 103.04 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for cystic fibrosis disability claims.