Legal Definitions - POMS

POMS stands for Program Operations Manual System.

The POMS is the comprehensive, internal operational guide used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to manage its daily activities. It serves as the official reference for SSA employees, detailing the policies, procedures, and instructions necessary to administer all Social Security programs consistently and accurately. This includes everything from processing applications for retirement and disability benefits to managing records and handling communications with the public. While some sensitive internal instructions are restricted, much of the POMS is publicly available to promote transparency in SSA operations.

Here are some examples of how the POMS is applied:

• Scenario: Evaluating a Disability Claim
  An SSA claims examiner is reviewing an application for disability benefits from an individual who has multiple complex medical conditions. The examiner needs to determine if these conditions meet the SSA's strict definition of disability and if the applicant is unable to perform substantial gainful activity.

  How POMS applies: The examiner would consult the "Disability Insurance" and "Supplemental Security Income" sections of the POMS. These sections provide detailed guidelines on how to evaluate medical evidence, assess the applicant's functional limitations, and apply the five-step sequential evaluation process for disability. The POMS ensures the examiner follows a standardized procedure, leading to a consistent and legally sound decision across all similar cases.

• Scenario: Calculating Retirement Benefits for a Widow
  A woman visits an SSA office after her husband's passing to inquire about survivor benefits. She needs to understand her eligibility, the required documentation, and how her monthly benefit amount will be calculated based on her late husband's earnings record.

  How POMS applies: The SSA representative assisting her would refer to the "Retirement and Survivors Insurance" section of the POMS. This part of the manual outlines the specific eligibility criteria for survivor benefits, such as the duration of marriage, the widow's age, and how to calculate the benefit amount based on the deceased spouse's work history. By following the POMS, the representative can accurately inform the widow, process her application correctly, and ensure all procedural steps are consistently applied.

• Scenario: Addressing an Overpayment of Benefits
  The Social Security Administration discovers that a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) mistakenly received an overpayment of benefits due to an unreported change in their income. The SSA needs to determine the correct amount of the overpayment and establish a plan for recovery.

  How POMS applies: SSA personnel would consult the relevant sections within the POMS that address "Supplemental Security Income" and "Notices, Letters, and Paragraphs." The POMS provides specific instructions on how to calculate overpayments, notify the recipient, evaluate potential waivers of recovery, and establish repayment plans. This ensures that the process is fair, consistent, and adheres to all legal requirements for addressing benefit overpayments.