How To Get Social Security Disability & SSI Benefits: Amputation

Legal Author - Travis Hansen, Esq.
Updated - September 1, 2025

Winning Your Case

Social Security's View About An Amputation

There are three primary issues in a Social Security and SSI disability case with an amputation: 1) the loss of use of the body part that was amputated, 2) pain and swelling in the area of the amputation, and 3) how well you can use a prosthetic device (if one is used). How all three affect your case depends on the definition of disability which is primarily based on age.

Under Age 50. Under age 50, an amputation in and of itself, is rarely a basis for disability. Social Security's rules require that to be found disabled under age 50, you must show you cannot perform any job in the country. To be found disabled under 50, you will have to show a physical limitation in one of four ways: 1) you meet a listing, 2) you are unable to leave your house, 3) you will be regularly off task throughout the workday, or 4) you must lie down throughout the day. As to the non-listing ways to establish disability, amputations generally do not require one to be off task or lie down or cause one to be unable to leave home. Therefore, if you do not meet a listing, it is difficult to establish disability with an amputation. The main non-listing argument for disability must be based on pain and swelling symptoms. If you suffer from ongoing severe pain, "ghost pain," or significant swelling, such symptoms can cause you an inability to maintain regular concentration and pace (off task), or the need to stay home to deal with your symptoms, you will be found disabled. Also, if you have a lower extremity amputation that causes pain and swelling, and you must lie down to elevate that lower extremity to alleviate your symptoms, then no job can be performed, and you will also be found disabled.

Over Age 50. Social Security's disability rules become a lot more complex after age 50. Any of the aforementioned four physical limitations will also result in a finding of disability over 50. If these four limitations do not apply, and you are over age 50, you can be found disabled if your amputation causes you the inability to perform your "past relevant work" and "other work" that exists in America. You will need to review Steps 4 and 5 of Social Security's disability criteria to determine what these two terms mean for you (it is specific to you depending on a variety of factors). The type and severity of amputation that causes you to meet Social Security's disability criteria will depend on the specific factors you must meet at each Step. That said, it is possible over 50 that an amputation in and of itself, can be a basis for disability. For a simple example, if you have been a welder all your life, and you suffer an upper extremity amputation, the mere loss of the limb will disallow you from performing your past welding work, or other related work.

Tip. An amputation may occur due to any cause and varying medical conditions. If your amputation occurred as a result of a medical condition, obviously that condition is severe, and you should evaluate that condition as well as evaluating your amputation under Social Security's rules as you may have another way to be found disabled.

Step 3 - Social Security & SSI Amputation Listing

The listing for an amputation is Adult Listing 1.05 and Child Listing 101.05. Both require you show the following:

1. An amputation of both hands;
2. An amputation of one or both lower extremities (at or above the foot) with complications of your stump which results in you being unable to use your prosthetic device to move about efficiently;
3. An amputation of one hand and one lower extremity (at or above the foot) causing your inability to walk effectively; or
4. A hemipelvectomy (amputation of half your pelvis and your entire leg), or a hip disarticulation (amputation of your leg at the hip).

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