Federal Disability Specialists

05/05/2026

The most basic question we get... what does it take to be awarded Disability with the Social Security Administration?
Here it is directly out of the Program Operations Manual Systems (POMS)....

DI 00115.015 Definitions of Disability

Under title II (SSDI) and title XVI (SSI), we consider a person disabled under Social Security rules if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment (or combination of impairments):

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that prevents him or her from doing any substantial gainful activity (SGA, currently in 2026 set at $1690 gross/per month), and

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has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death.

NOTE: The definition of disability also applies to persons applying for child’s insurance benefits based on disability before age 22 and for disability benefits payable after December 1990 as a widow(er) or surviving divorced spouse.

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05/05/2026

Over the past week, FDS has looked into multiple online groups (Facebook, Instagram, etc...) for Social Security Disability (SSDI) / Supplemental Security Income (SSI) "help pages" created by individuals, advocacy groups, or like communities that were created to help those working through the Social Security process.

There is so much misinformation within each group it is completely astonishing! That being said, there is a lot of great information out there posted by reputable firms. But if you're new to it all, you could be easily be mislead.

Every claim in Social Security, whether it's Disability, SSI, Retirement, or even Medicare/Medicaid issues... its truly like a "Fingerprint". It's extremely rare that one case is like another.

FDS hopes to shed a little truth along the way, backing up our facts with very up-to-date policies from the SSA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Program Operations Manual System (POMS), and the Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation Law Manual (HALLEX). Combining the language between all 3 systems, is a clear way in a sometimes gray area to completely understand the Social Security process. STAY TUNED!!!!

And of course, FDS is always a phone call away and would love to represent you, no matter where you are in the process prior to Federal Appeals.

04/27/2026

Just had another APPROVAL on an INTIAL CLAIM! What you say or do when you first sign up makes a difference!!!