Changes To The Amputation Listing

Social Security has proposed changing to its listings for musculoskeletal disorders. Social Security’s listings are impairments used by Social Security in making disability determinations by judging the severity of impairments. We will be presenting a series on the proposed changes, first looking at the current listing Social Security considers, followed by the proposed new listing. Next up is listing 1.05, a listing that would be replaced by 1.20.

1.05 Amputation (Current listing)

1.05 Amputation (due to any cause)

  1. Both hands;

or

  1. One or both lower extremities at or above the tarsal region, with stump complications resulting in medical inability to use a prosthetic device to ambulate effectively, as defined in 1.00B2b, which have lasted or are expected to last for at least 12 months;

or

  1. One hand and one lower extremity at or above the tarsal region, with inability to ambulate effectively, as defined in 1.00B2b;

or

  1. Hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation.

1.20 Amputation due to any cause (New listing)

101.20 Amputation due to any cause (see 101.00K), documented by A, B, C, or D:

  1. Amputation of both upper extremities, occurring at any level above the wrists (carpal joints), up to and including the shoulder (glenohumeral) joint.

OR

  1. Hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation.

OR

  1. Amputation of one upper extremity, occurring at any level above the wrist (carpal joints), and one lower extremity at or above the ankle (tarsal joint), and medical documentation of one the following (see 101.00E):
  2. The documented medical need for a one-handed assistive device requiring the use of the other upper extremity, or
  3. The inability to use the remaining upper extremity to independently initiate, sustain, and complete age-appropriate activities involving fine and gross movements.

OR

  1. Amputation of one or both lower extremities at or above the ankle (tarsal joint), with complications of the residual limb that have lasted or can be expected to last for at least 12 months, and medical documentation of both 1 and 2 (see 101.00E):
  2. The inability to use a prosthetic device(s); and
  3. The documented medical need for a walker, bilateral canes, or bilateral crutches.