Legal Definitions - POMS

The acronym POMS stands for Program Operations Manual System. It is a set of guidelines used by the Social SecurityAdministration (SSA) to carry out their daily activities related to social security. The POMS is divided into different sections that cover various aspects of social security, such as retirement and survivors insurance, disability insurance, and supplemental security income.

Some parts of the POMS are not available for public access and can only be viewed by authorized SSA personnel.

• The POMS provides guidelines for how the SSA should handle applications for disability benefits.
• One section of the POMS covers how the SSA should handle appeals for denied claims.
• The POMS also includes instructions for how the SSA should handle cases involving special veterans benefits.

These examples illustrate how the POMS provides detailed instructions for the SSA to follow when carrying out their duties related to social security. By following these guidelines, the SSA can ensure that they are providing fair and consistent services to all individuals who apply for social security benefits.