# SSA Blue Book Listings — Complete SSDI Guide

The SSA Blue Book (Listing of Impairments) contains the medical criteria SSA uses to decide SSDI and SSI disability claims at step three of the sequential evaluation. Part A covers adults (14 body systems); Part B covers children. Meeting a listing means automatic approval; not meeting one just moves the case to steps four and five (residual functional capacity).

**Direct answer:** The SSA Blue Book is SSA's Listing of Impairments — the medical criteria book for SSDI and SSI.

**Direct answer:** The SSA Blue Book (formally, the Listing of Impairments) is SSA's medical criteria book — meet a listing and you win your disability claim at step three, without any consideration of your age, education, or past work.

## What is the SSA Blue Book?
The Blue Book is the Social Security Administration's official Listing of Impairments — the medical criteria SSA uses to decide SSDI and SSI disability claims. Part A contains adult listings (used for anyone age 18+). Part B contains childhood listings (used for people under 18 filing for SSI).

## How are the listings organized?
Fourteen adult body systems, each with its own set of specific medical listings. Every listing has objective criteria — imaging, lab values, physical findings, or functional measures — that SSA can verify from your medical records.

## Do I have to meet a listing to be approved?
No. Most SSDI approvals happen at step five (residual functional capacity, or RFC) — not at step three (listings). Meeting a listing is a shortcut, not a requirement.

## Sources
- SSA — Adult Listings (Part A) — https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm
- SSA — Listing of Impairments overview — https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm

## Related questions
- [Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/ssdi)
- [The SSDI Application Process](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/application-process)
- [SSDI Appeals & Reconsideration](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/appeals)
- [The SSA Blue Book (Listing of Impairments)](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/blue-book)
## Topics
- SSA Blue Book — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/blue-book

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Published: 2026-07-18T13:46:10.141425+00:00
Modified: 2026-07-18T13:46:10.141425+00:00
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