Listing 3.04
Cystic Fibrosis
This listing covers cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder affecting the lungs, pancreas, and other organs.
Read the full plain-language explanation
First, CF itself must be documented as described in 3.00J2 (a physician-signed report with a qualifying clinical basis plus a definitive lab test such as sweat chloride ≥60 mmol/L or two CFTR gene mutations). Then you need any ONE of seven paths (A–G): a low FEV1 breathing test, three hospitalizations in a year, a collapsed lung needing a chest tube, respiratory failure needing a ventilator or BiPAP, lung bleeding needing embolization, low oxygen saturation twice in a year, or two qualifying exacerbations/complications within a year.
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What Listing 3.04 asks for
What SSA looks for — see the 7 items
We will check your records against each of these. Every item comes straight from SSA's own listing.
- Your best FEV1 (air blown out in the first second of a breathing test) must be at or below the table value for your age, sex, and height.
- This is one of seven paths — you only need one of A through G.
Read the original wording
Your best FEV1 (air blown out in the first second of a breathing test) must be at or below the table value for your age, sex, and height. This is one of seven paths — you only need one of A through G.
(Listing 3.04, criterion A)
- You were hospitalized three times within one year for CF exacerbations or complications, with at least 30 days between stays.
- Unlike other listings, the hospital stays can be any length.
- Only one of paths A–G is needed.
Read the original wording
You were hospitalized three times within one year for CF exacerbations or complications, with at least 30 days between stays. Unlike other listings, the hospital stays can be any length. Only one of paths A–G is needed.
(Listing 3.04, criterion B)
Your lung collapsed on its own because of CF, and doctors had to place a chest tube to treat it. Only one of paths A–G is needed.
(Listing 3.04, criterion C)
- Your lungs failed and you needed a ventilator or BiPAP machine continuously for at least 48 hours (or 72 hours if it happened after surgery).
- CPAP does not count — it must be invasive ventilation or BiPAP.
- Only one of paths A–G is needed.
Read the original wording
Your lungs failed and you needed a ventilator or BiPAP machine continuously for at least 48 hours (or 72 hours if it happened after surgery). CPAP does not count — it must be invasive ventilation or BiPAP. Only one of paths A–G is needed.
(Listing 3.04, criterion D)
You had serious bleeding in your lungs that doctors had to stop with a vascular embolization procedure (blocking the bleeding blood vessel). Only one of paths A–G is needed.
(Listing 3.04, criterion E)
- Your blood oxygen saturation (measured by a fingertip pulse oximeter at rest, or during or after a 6-minute walk) was at or below 89% (lower cutoffs at higher altitudes) on two occasions at least 30 days apart within one year.
- Only one of paths A–G is needed.
Read the original wording
Your blood oxygen saturation (measured by a fingertip pulse oximeter at rest, or during or after a 6-minute walk) was at or below 89% (lower cutoffs at higher altitudes) on two occasions at least 30 days apart within one year. Only one of paths A–G is needed.
(Listing 3.04, criterion F)
- You had two qualifying CF problems within one year (the same problem twice, or two different ones):
- A flare-up needing 10 straight days of IV antibiotics
- Lung bleeding needing a hospital stay
- Weight loss needing feeding-tube or IV nutrition for at least 90 straight days
- CF-related diabetes needing daily insulin for at least 90 straight days.
Read the original wording
You had two qualifying CF problems within one year (the same problem twice, or two different ones): (1) a flare-up needing 10 straight days of IV antibiotics, (2) lung bleeding needing a hospital stay, (3) weight loss needing feeding-tube or IV nutrition for at least 90 straight days, or (4) CF-related diabetes needing daily insulin for at least 90 straight days. If both events are acute (G1/G2), they must be at least 30 days apart; an acute event and a chronic complication (G3/G4), or two chronic complications, can overlap in time. Only one of paths A–G is needed.
(Listing 3.04, criterion G)
How long it must last:
- No single listing-specific duration for all paths
- The general 12-month duration expectation applies.
- Paths B, F, and G each require the qualifying events to occur within a 12-month period that falls within the period SSA is considering
- Paths G3 and G4 require at least 90 consecutive days of treatment.
Read the original wording
No single listing-specific duration for all paths; the general 12-month duration expectation applies. Paths B, F, and G each require the qualifying events to occur within a 12-month period that falls within the period SSA is considering; paths G3 and G4 require at least 90 consecutive days of treatment.