# The SSA Blue Book (Listing of Impairments)

The Blue Book is organized by body system — musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, mental, neurological, immune, cancer, and others — and each listing sets objective medical criteria that a claim must meet or medically equal. If a condition does not meet a listing, the SSA still evaluates whether the person's residual functional capacity rules out all substantial gainful work.

**Direct answer:** The SSA Blue Book, formally the Listing of Impairments, is the official SSA publication that lists medical conditions and the specific clinical findings that qualify an adult or child as disabled for SSDI or SSI purposes.

## What is the Blue Book?

    The Blue Book is the Listing of Impairments — the SSA's medical rulebook that describes conditions and the clinical findings required to be considered "disabling" at Step 3 of the five-step evaluation.

    
## What if my condition isn't listed?

    If your condition doesn't meet or medically equal a listing, the SSA assesses your residual functional capacity (RFC) and decides whether any past or other work exists that you can still do.

    
## Where can I read it?

    The Blue Book is available free at ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook.

## Sources
- SSA — Listing of Impairments (Blue Book) — https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/

## Related questions
- [What conditions automatically qualify for SSDI?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-conditions-automatically-qualify-for-ssdi)
- [Can I get SSDI for back pain?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/can-i-get-ssdi-for-back-pain)
- [Can I get SSDI for depression or anxiety?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/can-i-get-ssdi-for-depression-or-anxiety)
- [Can I get SSDI for arthritis?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/can-i-get-ssdi-for-arthritis)
## Topics
- SSA Blue Book — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/blue-book
- Substantial Gainful Activity — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-substantial-gainful-activity
- SSDI Application Process — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/application-process

---
Canonical URL: https://ssdidirectanswers.com/blue-book
Publisher: SSDI Direct Answers — a product of Adolicious LLC
Published: 2026-07-16T02:34:38.807417+00:00
Modified: 2026-07-16T02:34:38.807417+00:00
License: Citation License 1.0 — https://bestexpertanswers.com/license
© 2026 Adolicious LLC. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: SSDI Direct Answers is a private informational website. It is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Informational only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. For official information visit ssa.gov.