Social Security Program Rules Home Page

Our current program rules include the law; regulations; Commissioner rulings; and, employee operating instructions.

Compilation of Social Security Laws --
Volume I contains the full text of the Social Security Act, as amended, and selected provisions of the Internal Revenue Code
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Volume II of the Compilation --
Contains provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and other public laws and statutes cited in, and affecting administration of, the Social Security Act.

Legislation --
Recent legislation affecting Social Security benefits

Code of Federal Regulations for Social Security --
Revised as of April 1, 2007
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All Social Security documents published in the Federal Register since September 25, 2006, can now be found by accessing the Federal eRulemaking web portal.

This centralized docket management system provides Federal Agencies and the public the ability to search, view, download and submit comments on proposed federal rules. Social Security is currently in the process of migrating Federal Register documents published prior to September 25, 2006 to the Federal eRulemaking web portal. If you would like to see the public comments for the proposed rules that were published prior to September 25, 2006, see Rules Closed to Comment.

To view Social Security documents go to the Federal eRulemaking web portal and select “Social Security Administration” from the agency drop-down menu, and click “Submit.”

SSI Law and Regulations Finder --
Specific references to Supplemental Security Income law and regulations

Complete Social Security Rulings and Acquiescence Rulings --
Includes rulings for 1960 to date

Recent Social Security Rulings and Acquiescence Rulings

Link to “Guidance Documents” http://www.regulations.gov

The Social Security Administration has not published any significant “Guidance Documents” since 01/25/2007.

You may view guidance documents that are currently available for comment by using regulations.gov. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and select, “Social Security Administration” from the agency drop-down menu and select “Submit”. Once you locate the information that you are interested in, you can read, submit or view public comments.

The Social Security Administration has issued four significant guidance documents prior to January 25, 2007 that are currently in effect. You may view the significant guidance documents issued before January 25, 2007 by using the following link:  good-guidance.htm

Members of the public may provide feedback on any of the guidance documents. All comments will be reviewed and referred to the appropriate component for considerations. Comments should be submitted to:  good.guidance@ssa.gov.

Program Operations Manual System --
Instructions used by employees and agents of SSA to carry out the law, regulations, and rulings

Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) Manual --
Instructions used by employees of SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in processing and adjudicating claims at the hearing, Appeals Council review, and civil actions levels of appeal

Social Security Handbook

Disability Supplemental Security Income

On our Program Rules Resources page, we list the various handbooks we have developed for use by the public.

For all new Social Security articles published in the Federal Register, see the Regulations.gov website.

You are invited to comment on developing rules before they become final. Please visit the, Regulations.gov, for further information. Included are requests for public comments published in the Federal Register (e.g., requests for comments on proposed changes in our regulatory rules).