SOAR Works!
Nationally, only about 30 percent of individuals who apply for SSI/SSDI are approved on initial application. For people who are homeless and have no one to assist them, that percentage is cut by more than one half. When applications are denied, appeals can take an average of one year to complete, and in that time applicants often give up hope.
With income support and Medicaid/Medicare health insurance, benefit recipients are able to access housing and physical/behavioral health care services, allowing them to pursue other life goals, including employment.
States and communities utilizing the SOAR approach report average
approval ratings of over 70% in only 3 months.
States, Communities, and Agencies also benefit from SOAR:
- In 2010, SSI/SSDI brought over $85 million into the state and local economies of 44 states reporting outcomes.
- At agencies with SOAR-trained staff, case managers are relieved of the time and effort needed for the appeals process. Rather, they use the SOAR approach to obtain approval on initial application, allowing them to focus on helping individuals with their recovery and life goals.
- Medical Providers and Hospitals can also receive Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement, often retroactively, for medication and direct service costs that would otherwise remain uncompensated. ER and inpatient units, the most expensive medical settings, are those most commonly used by those who are homeless and have no insurance.