Ghosh, RajesRajesGhoshBhatt, Rajendra PrasadRajendra PrasadBhattChakraborty, SumantaSumantaChakrabortyBose, SukantaSukantaBose2026-04-162026-04-162026-04-012331-842210.48550/arXiv.2604.06249https://repository.iitgn.ac.in/handle/IITG2025/35012Second-order ordinary linear differential equations appear ubiquitously across physics, describing the behavior of systems from the quantum world of atoms to the classical world of gravitating bodies. We present a unified symmetry-based framework that provides a ``litmus-test criterion'' to determine when such a system admits a hierarchical ladder structure, and, whenever it does, explicitly constructs the ladder. This approach uncovers a previously underappreciated connection to supersymmetric quantum mechanics and a deep commonality among diverse physical problems. Applications to the quantum harmonic oscillator and dynamical tidal response of Kerr black holes are presented to illustrate the framework.en-USe-Print