United States · Social Security disability · Blue Book
SSA listing 12.05: intellectual disorder.
The adult Blue Book listing, quoted as printed and explained in plain terms.
Listing 12.05 is different from the other mental listings: it is satisfied by paragraph A or paragraph B, and each paragraph has three required parts: significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, significant deficits in current adaptive functioning, and evidence the disorder began before age 22. Paragraph B uses IQ thresholds of 70 or below, or 71 to 75 with a verbal or performance score of 70 or below.
The short version
Listing 12.05 is different from the other mental listings: it is satisfied by paragraph A or paragraph B, and each paragraph has three required parts: significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, significant deficits in current adaptive functioning, and evidence the disorder began before age 22. Paragraph B uses IQ thresholds of 70 or below, or 71 to 75 with a verbal or performance score of 70 or below.
The text below is the adult listing from 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 as published on the eCFR, current through October 29, 2026 and read on November 2, 2026. Children are evaluated under the 112.xx series; this page covers only the adult listing.
Listing 12.05 as printed
Listing 12.05, as printed (adult listing)
A. Satisfied by 1, 2, and 3 (see 12.00H):
1. Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning evident in your cognitive inability to function at a level required to participate in standardized testing of intellectual functioning; and
2. Significant deficits in adaptive functioning currently manifested by your dependence upon others for personal needs (for example, toileting, eating, dressing, or bathing); and
3. The evidence about your current intellectual and adaptive functioning and about the history of your disorder demonstrates or supports the conclusion that the disorder began prior to your attainment of age 22.
OR
B. Satisfied by 1, 2, and 3 (see 12.00H):
1. Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning evidenced by a or b: a. A full scale (or comparable) IQ score of 70 or below on an individually administered standardized test of general intelligence; or b. A full scale (or comparable) IQ score of 71-75 accompanied by a verbal or performance IQ score (or comparable part score) of 70 or below on an individually administered standardized test of general intelligence; and
2. Significant deficits in adaptive functioning currently manifested by extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the following areas of mental functioning: a. Understand, remember, or apply information (see 12.00E1); or b. Interact with others (see 12.00E2); or c. Concentrate, persist, or maintain pace (see 12.00E3); or d. Adapt or manage oneself (see 12.00E4); and
3. The evidence about your current intellectual and adaptive functioning and about the history of your disorder demonstrates or supports the conclusion that the disorder began prior to your attainment of age 22.
How listing 12.05 is built
Listing 12.05 is the exception to the rule that the mental listings use paragraphs A, B and C in the same way. Section 12.00A3 says: "Listing 12.05 has two paragraphs, designated A and B, that apply to only intellectual disorder." Section 12.00A2 adds that "your mental disorder must satisfy the requirements of either paragraph A or paragraph B," and the parentheticals in 12.00A2b and A2c define "paragraph B criteria" and "paragraph C" as applying to every listing except 12.05.
In 12.05 there is no separate medical paragraph followed by a functional one. Each of the two paragraphs is a complete package of three elements that section 12.00H calls the three elements that characterize intellectual disorder: significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, significant deficits in current adaptive functioning, and manifestation before age 22.
Paragraph A and B in plain terms
Paragraph A is the route for people who cannot take a standardized intelligence test. Element 1 identifies subaverage functioning "by the cognitive inability to function at a level required to participate in standardized intelligence testing," and section 12.00H2a says those findings "are based on evidence from an acceptable medical source." Element 2 requires current dependence upon others for personal needs, with toileting, eating, dressing and bathing as the examples. Element 3 is the onset-before-22 requirement.
Paragraph B is the route that uses scores. Element 1 can be shown two ways: a full-scale IQ of 70 or below, or a full-scale IQ of 71 to 75 together with a verbal or performance score (or comparable part score) of 70 or below. Both must come from "an individually administered standardized test of general intelligence." Element 2 borrows the language of the standard functional test: extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, of the four areas of mental functioning, which here are called "significant deficits in adaptive functioning." Element 3 is again the onset requirement.
What the regulation says this category covers (12.00B4)
12.00B4, quoted
This disorder is characterized by significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, significant deficits in current adaptive functioning, and manifestation of the disorder before age 22. Signs may include, but are not limited to, poor conceptual, social, or practical skills evident in your adaptive functioning.
The disorder that we evaluate in this category may be described in the evidence as intellectual disability, intellectual developmental disorder, or historically used terms such as "mental retardation." This category does not include the mental disorders that we evaluate under neurocognitive disorders (12.02), autism spectrum disorder (12.10), or neurodevelopmental disorders (12.11).
TNAADO's reading: the category description and the examples tell you which kinds of conditions are assessed here. They are not extra criteria. The criteria are the paragraphs of the listing itself.
The testing rules behind paragraph B and the IQ thresholds
Section 12.00H2 sets standards for the testing itself. The test must have "a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15." SSA finds results usable "when the measure employed meets contemporary psychometric standards for validity, reliability, normative data, and scope of measurement; and a qualified specialist has individually administered the test according to all pre-requisite testing conditions." A "qualified specialist" is "currently licensed or certified at the independent level of practice in the State where the test was performed, and has the training and experience to administer, score, and interpret intelligence tests."
Section 12.00H2d says SSA generally presumes "that your obtained IQ score(s) is an accurate reflection of your general intellectual functioning, unless evidence in the record suggests otherwise," and lists as examples a statement from the test administrator that the score is not accurate, prior or internally inconsistent scores, or information about daily functioning. Only qualified specialists, Federal and State agency consultants and other contracted experts may conclude that a score is not accurate.
Where paragraph B of 12.05 requires extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two, areas of mental functioning, it uses the same five-point scale as the other listings:
| Point on the scale | Definition (12.00F2, quoted) |
|---|---|
| None | You are able to function in this area independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis. |
| Mild | Your functioning in this area independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis is slightly limited. |
| Moderate | Your functioning in this area independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis is fair. |
| Marked | Your functioning in this area independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis is seriously limited. |
| Extreme | You are not able to function in this area independently, appropriately, effectively, and on a sustained basis. |
The age-22 element and neighbouring listings
The age-22 element is a requirement about evidence: the record must "demonstrate or support" the conclusion that the disorder began before 22. Disorders with onset later in life, or conditions involving a decline from a prior level of functioning, belong in other categories such as neurocognitive disorders (12.02). Autism spectrum disorder (12.10) and neurodevelopmental disorders (12.11) are separate categories, and 12.00B4c says intellectual disorder does not include them.
What this page does not do
It does not diagnose, say which listing applies to you, estimate an outcome or advise on a claim. A listing is only one step: Social Security also decides disability through other steps and considers evidence this page does not reproduce. The regulation text changes over time; check the linked eCFR page for the current version.
Frequently asked questions
Does listing 12.05 use paragraphs A, B and C like other mental listings?
No. It has two alternative paragraphs, A or B, that apply only to intellectual disorder. Each requires subaverage intellectual functioning, deficits in adaptive functioning and onset before age 22.
What IQ scores does paragraph B of 12.05 use?
A full-scale IQ of 70 or below, or a full-scale IQ of 71 to 75 with a verbal or performance score (or comparable part score) of 70 or below, on an individually administered standardized test.
What is the age requirement?
The evidence must demonstrate or support the conclusion that the disorder began before the person reached age 22.
Who may administer the intelligence test?
A qualified specialist: someone currently licensed or certified at the independent level of practice in the State where the test was performed, with the training and experience to administer, score and interpret intelligence tests.
Is an IQ score always accepted as accurate?
SSA generally presumes it is, unless the record suggests otherwise, for example a test administrator's statement or inconsistent scores. Only qualified specialists and certain agency or contracted experts may conclude a score is not accurate.
Does this page tell me whether I meet listing 12.05?
No. It reproduces the published criteria. Social Security decides disability, and this page is not medical or claim advice.
Sources
Read directly from the primary sources below on November 2, 2026 (eCFR text current through October 29, 2026). Quotations are the regulation text as printed; anything labelled as a reading is TNAADO's. The listings are amended and re-extended from time to time, so confirm the current text on the linked pages.
- 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1, Listing of Impairments (eCFR, current through October 29, 2026; read November 2, 2026)
- 20 CFR Part 404 Subpart P, Determining Disability and Blindness (eCFR; read November 2, 2026)
- Social Security Administration, Disability Evaluation Under Social Security (Blue Book) index (checked November 2, 2026; direct page fetches return 403, so the regulation text on eCFR was used)
Reference, not an SSA determination, medical advice or claim advice
Listing criteria quoted from 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 as of October 29, 2026 (eCFR). This page reproduces published criteria so you can read them; it does not diagnose, tell you whether you meet a listing, estimate an outcome or advise on a claim. Social Security decides disability using the full process in its regulations, including provisions this page does not reproduce. It is not legal, financial or medical advice; a benefits attorney, accredited representative or your clinician can review your situation.