Paragraph B Criteria: The Mental Health Functioning Test
TL;DR: Paragraph B evaluates four areas of mental functioning on a five-point scale: none, mild, moderate, marked, and extreme. You need an "extreme" limitation in one area or "marked" limitations in two areas to meet Paragraph B. The four areas are: (1) understanding/remembering/applying information, (2) interacting with others, (3) concentration/persistence/pace, and (4) adapting/managing oneself. These ratings appear on every mental health listing from 12.02 through 12.15.
The Four Areas
| Area | What It Measures | Examples of Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding, remembering, or applying information | Learning, following instructions, solving problems | Can't remember how to complete familiar tasks, gets lost following multi-step instructions |
| Interacting with others | Social functioning, cooperation, conflict | Avoids all social contact, explosive outbursts, can't work near others |
| Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace | Staying on task, completing work | Can't focus for 30 minutes, leaves tasks incomplete, needs constant redirection |
| Adapting or managing oneself | Self-regulation, hygiene, planning | Doesn't bathe for weeks, can't manage medications, decompensates with minor changes |
Rating Scale
- None: No limitation
- Mild: Slight limitation but can generally function well
- Moderate: Fair functioning, some difficulty
- Marked: Seriously limited in this area
- Extreme: Unable to function independently in this area
Meeting Paragraph B
You need either: (1) one extreme limitation, or (2) two marked limitations across the four areas. "Moderate" ratings in all four areas don't meet Paragraph B.
How to Prove It
Mental status examinations, psychological testing, treatment records documenting functional deficits, third-party observations, and your function report all contribute to the Paragraph B assessment.
Start your application with ClaimPath
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about paragraph b criteria: the mental health functioning test?
TL;DR: Paragraph B evaluates four areas of mental functioning on a five-point scale: none, mild, moderate, marked, and extreme. You need an "extreme" limitation in one area or "marked" limitations in two areas to meet Paragraph B. The four areas are: (1) understanding/remembering/applying information, (2) interacting with others, (3) concentration/persistence/pace, and (4) adapting/managing oneself.
What should I know about meeting paragraph b?
You need either: (1) one extreme limitation, or (2) two marked limitations across the four areas. "Moderate" ratings in all four areas don't meet Paragraph B.
How to Prove It?
Mental status examinations, psychological testing, treatment records documenting functional deficits, third-party observations, and your function report all contribute to the Paragraph B assessment.