Medical evidence on an applicant's impairment is assessed under step 3 using codified clinical criteria called the Listing of Impairments, which includes over 100 impairments.
Applicants with impairments that “meet” the Listings are allowed without further evaluation, based solely on medical criteria. In other words, benefits are awarded at this step, and steps 4 and 5 are not evaluated.
Moreover, if an applicant has an impairment not included in the Listings but considered medically equivalent to a listed impairment, the impairment is said to “equal the Listings,” and the applicant is allowed.
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Children also have a comparable Listing of Impairments that if they meet or equal a Child Listing, they will be found disabled and allowed benefits.