Listing 1.20
Amputation due to any cause
This listing covers amputations from any cause — trauma, birth conditions, surgery for cancer or infection, or complications of vascular disease or diabetes.
Read the full plain-language explanation
There are four separate ways (A, B, C, or D) to meet it; you only need one: (A) both arms amputated at or above the wrists; (B) hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation (loss of an entire leg through the pelvis or hip); (C) one arm amputated at or above the wrist AND one leg at or above the ankle, plus a documented need for a mobility device or inability to use the remaining arm; or (D) one or both legs amputated at or above the ankle with residual limb complications lasting at least 12 months, an inability to use a prosthesis, and a documented medical need for a walker, two canes/crutches, or a two-handed wheelchair. For A and B, the amputation itself automatically satisfies the duration requirement.
Upload your medical records
PDFs or photos (JPG, PNG) — up to 15 files, 20 MB each.
What Listing 1.20 asks for
What SSA looks for — see the 4 items
We will check your records against each of these. Every item comes straight from SSA's own listing.
- Both of your arms were amputated at or above the wrist (anywhere up to and including the shoulder).
- This is one of four alternative paths — only one of A, B, C, or D is needed.
- This path alone satisfies the duration requirement.
Read the original wording
Both of your arms were amputated at or above the wrist (anywhere up to and including the shoulder). This is one of four alternative paths — only one of A, B, C, or D is needed. This path alone satisfies the duration requirement.
(Listing 1.20, criterion A)
- You had an entire leg amputated through the pelvis (hemipelvectomy) or through the hip joint (hip disarticulation).
- This path alone is enough — only one of A, B, C, or D is needed — and it satisfies the duration requirement by itself.
Read the original wording
You had an entire leg amputated through the pelvis (hemipelvectomy) or through the hip joint (hip disarticulation). This path alone is enough — only one of A, B, C, or D is needed — and it satisfies the duration requirement by itself.
(Listing 1.20, criterion B)
- One arm was amputated at or above the wrist AND one leg at or above the ankle, PLUS records show at least one of:
- A medical need for a walker, two canes/crutches, or a two-handed wheelchair
- A medical need for a one-handed device (like a cane) or one-handed wheelchair that ties up your remaining hand
- You can't use your remaining arm for work tasks. Only one of C's three sub-options is needed, and C itself is one of four alternative paths.
Read the original wording
One arm was amputated at or above the wrist AND one leg at or above the ankle, PLUS records show at least one of: (1) a medical need for a walker, two canes/crutches, or a two-handed wheelchair; (2) a medical need for a one-handed device (like a cane) or one-handed wheelchair that ties up your remaining hand; or (3) you can't use your remaining arm for work tasks. Only one of C's three sub-options is needed, and C itself is one of four alternative paths.
(Listing 1.20, criterion C)
- One or both legs were amputated at or above the ankle, and your residual limb(s) have complications lasting at least 12 months. Your records must show BOTH:
- You cannot use a prosthesis
- You medically need a walker, two canes, two crutches, or a two-handed wheelchair.
- D is one of four alternative paths, but within D both items 1 and 2 are required.
Read the original wording
One or both legs were amputated at or above the ankle, and your residual limb(s) have complications lasting at least 12 months. Your records must show BOTH: (1) you cannot use a prosthesis, and (2) you medically need a walker, two canes, two crutches, or a two-handed wheelchair. D is one of four alternative paths, but within D both items 1 and 2 are required.
(Listing 1.20, criterion D)
How long it must last:
- Amputations under paths A and B automatically satisfy the duration requirement.
- For path D, residual limb complications must have lasted, or be expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
- For paths C and D, the required criteria must be present simultaneously or within a close proximity of time (a consecutive 4-month period, or 12 months for claims decided during the pandemic/post-pandemic evaluation periods).
Read the original wording
Amputations under paths A and B automatically satisfy the duration requirement. For path D, residual limb complications must have lasted, or be expected to last, for a continuous period of at least 12 months. For paths C and D, the required criteria must be present simultaneously or within a close proximity of time (a consecutive 4-month period, or 12 months for claims decided during the pandemic/post-pandemic evaluation periods).