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Listing 5.05

Chronic liver disease (CLD)

This listing covers long-term liver disease lasting more than 6 months, such as from hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or long-term alcohol use.

Read the full plain-language explanation

SSA looks for one of seven serious complications: severe bleeding from varices (A), fluid buildup in the belly or chest (B), infection of that fluid (C), kidney failure caused by liver disease (D), lung problems caused by liver disease (E), brain/mental changes from liver disease (F), or two high SSA CLD lab scores (G). You only need to meet ONE of these paths.

Read Listing 5.05 on ssa.gov

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What Listing 5.05 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.

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one (A, B, C, D, E, F, or G).
    • Path A: bleeding from swollen veins in your esophagus or stomach, shown on imaging, that made you unstable (pale, sweating, fast pulse, low blood pressure, or fainting) AND required a hospital stay with a transfusion of at least 2 units of blood.
    • Both parts 1 and 2 are needed for this path.
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one (A, B, C, D, E, F, or G). Path A: bleeding from swollen veins in your esophagus or stomach, shown on imaging, that made you unstable (pale, sweating, fast pulse, low blood pressure, or fainting) AND required a hospital stay with a transfusion of at least 2 units of blood. Both parts 1 and 2 are needed for this path.

    (Listing 5.05, criterion A)

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one.
    • Path B: fluid buildup in your belly (ascites) or around your lungs (hydrothorax) caused by liver disease, found at two separate visits within 12 months and at least 60 days apart.
    • Each visit must confirm the fluid by a needle drainage procedure, OR by imaging or physical exam plus a low albumin blood level (3.0 or less) or a high INR (1.5 or more).
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one. Path B: fluid buildup in your belly (ascites) or around your lungs (hydrothorax) caused by liver disease, found at two separate visits within 12 months and at least 60 days apart. Each visit must confirm the fluid by a needle drainage procedure, OR by imaging or physical exam plus a low albumin blood level (3.0 or less) or a high INR (1.5 or more).

    (Listing 5.05, criterion B)

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one.
    • Path C: an infection of the fluid in your belly (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), proven by a lab test of the fluid showing a neutrophil count of at least 250 cells per cubic millimeter.
    • One documented episode is enough for this path.
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one. Path C: an infection of the fluid in your belly (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), proven by a lab test of the fluid showing a neutrophil count of at least 250 cells per cubic millimeter. One documented episode is enough for this path.

    (Listing 5.05, criterion C)

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one.
    • Path D: kidney failure caused by your liver disease (with no separate kidney disease).
    • It must be shown by one of these: a creatinine blood level of at least 2, urine output under 500 mL in 24 hours, or urine sodium under 10.
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one. Path D: kidney failure caused by your liver disease (with no separate kidney disease). It must be shown by one of these: a creatinine blood level of at least 2, urine output under 500 mL in 24 hours, or urine sodium under 10.

    (Listing 5.05, criterion D)

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one.
    • Path E: low blood oxygen caused by your liver disease.
    • It can be shown by an arterial blood gas (ABG) test done while resting and breathing regular room air, with oxygen levels at or below a cutoff that depends on the altitude of the test site (60 at low altitude, 55 at 3,000–6,000 feet, 50 above 6,000 feet).
    • Or it can be shown by a special heart ultrasound with contrast or a lung scan proving abnormal blood shunting in the lungs.
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one. Path E: low blood oxygen caused by your liver disease. It can be shown by an arterial blood gas (ABG) test done while resting and breathing regular room air, with oxygen levels at or below a cutoff that depends on the altitude of the test site (60 at low altitude, 55 at 3,000–6,000 feet, 50 above 6,000 feet). Or it can be shown by a special heart ultrasound with contrast or a lung scan proving abnormal blood shunting in the lungs.

    (Listing 5.05, criterion E)

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one.
    • Path F: brain and thinking problems caused by liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), such as confusion, personality changes, memory problems, or being hard to wake.
    • This must be documented at two visits within 12 months, at least 60 days apart.
    • You also need either a history of a TIPS or similar shunt procedure, OR at least two evaluations (60+ days apart, in the same 12 months) showing a 'flapping tremor' or similar neurological signs, an abnormal EEG, low albumin (3.0 or less), or high INR (1.5 or more).
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one. Path F: brain and thinking problems caused by liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy), such as confusion, personality changes, memory problems, or being hard to wake. This must be documented at two visits within 12 months, at least 60 days apart. You also need either a history of a TIPS or similar shunt procedure, OR at least two evaluations (60+ days apart, in the same 12 months) showing a 'flapping tremor' or similar neurological signs, an abnormal EEG, low albumin (3.0 or less), or high INR (1.5 or more).

    (Listing 5.05, criterion F)

    • This is one of seven paths — you only need one.
    • Path G: two SSA CLD scores of 20 or higher within 12 months, at least 60 days apart.
    • The SSA CLD score is calculated from your lab values (creatinine, total bilirubin, INR, and sometimes sodium), and all labs for each score must come from within one 30-day window.
    • If you meet this, SSA considers you disabled from at least the date of the first qualifying score.
    Read the original wording

    This is one of seven paths — you only need one. Path G: two SSA CLD scores of 20 or higher within 12 months, at least 60 days apart. The SSA CLD score is calculated from your lab values (creatinine, total bilirubin, INR, and sometimes sodium), and all labs for each score must come from within one 30-day window. If you meet this, SSA considers you disabled from at least the date of the first qualifying score.

    (Listing 5.05, criterion G)

How long it must last:

  • CLD must persist for more than 6 months.
  • Some paths have their own timing rules: 5.05A is considered a disability for 1 year following the documented transfusion
  • B and F require two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period at least 60 days apart
  • G requires two qualifying scores within 12 months at least 60 days apart. The general 12-month duration expectation otherwise applies.
Read the original wording

CLD must persist for more than 6 months. Some paths have their own timing rules: 5.05A is considered a disability for 1 year following the documented transfusion; B and F require two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period at least 60 days apart; G requires two qualifying scores within 12 months at least 60 days apart. The general 12-month duration expectation otherwise applies.