Congenital and Rare Diseases and Social Security Disability
Congenital and rare disorders that may be evaluated under Listing 10.00, other affected body systems, or current Compassionate Allowances guidance.
Adult Listing 10.00 applies specifically to certain congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems. Its numbered adult listing, 10.06, addresses documented non-mosaic Down syndrome. Mosaic Down syndrome and other congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems are evaluated under the listings for the body systems actually affected and, when no listing is met or medically equaled, under the remaining steps of the disability evaluation.
Rare diseases do not all have dedicated SSA listings. Depending on the diagnosis, SSA may evaluate a rare disorder under another body-system listing, consider medical equivalence, or assess residual functional capacity. Some specifically named severe conditions appear on SSA's Compassionate Allowances list and may receive expedited processing, but the applicable medical and nonmedical eligibility rules still apply.
Return to the Disability Conditions Center to browse all published resources.
Official SSA resource: Listing 10.00 — Congenital Disorders That Affect Multiple Body Systems
Congenital and Rare Diseases condition guides
- Huntington’s Disease
SSA evaluates Huntington's disease under Listing 11.17. Adult-onset and juvenile-onset Huntington disease are currently Compassionate Allowances conditions. SSA considers the documented motor, cognitive, behavioral, and other functional effects under the applicable disability criteria.
- Muscular Dystrophy
SSA evaluates muscular dystrophy under Listing 11.13 using extreme motor limits in two extremities or marked physical plus marked mental limitation. Some named dystrophies appear on the current CAL list; not every MD diagnosis does.
- Cerebral Palsy
Adult Listing 11.07 evaluates cerebral palsy through extreme motor limitation, a marked physical limitation together with a marked limitation in one specified area of mental functioning, or significant interference with communication due to a speech, hearing, or visual deficit. If the listing is not met, SSA considers the remaining functional limitations.
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome has no dedicated adult SSA listing. SSA evaluates documented joint instability, vascular complications, skin findings, autonomic effects, and other manifestations under the affected body systems and through residual functional capacity when no listing is met.
- Cystic Fibrosis
Listing 3.04 evaluates documented cystic fibrosis by specified spirometry, hospitalizations, pneumothorax, respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulse oximetry, or combined exacerbations including CF-related diabetes. A genetic diagnosis is not an approval.
- Down Syndrome
Listing 10.06 applies to non-mosaic Down syndrome documented through the listing's karyotype or alternate physician-report pathways. Mosaic Down syndrome and other congenital disorders affecting multiple body systems are evaluated under the listings for the body systems affected and through the remaining disability evaluation when necessary.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
A progressive motor neuron disease evaluated under Listing 11.10. Adult ALS is also on SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list for expedited case processing when the documented diagnosis meets applicable rules.
- Intellectual Disorder
Adult Listing 12.05 requires significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, significant deficits in current adaptive functioning, and evidence that the disorder began before age 22. Paragraph A applies when the person cannot participate in standardized intelligence testing at the required level, while paragraph B uses qualifying standardized intelligence-test scores.
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This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
