Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are disability income benefits administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that generally also provide either Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance to individuals who are eligible. Accessing these benefits is often a critical first step in recovery.

For people, who are homeless with mental health problems that impair cognition or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons or hospitals), access to these programs can be extremely challenging. The application process for SSI/SSDI is complicated, detailed, and often difficult to navigate. Typically, about 10-15 percent of individuals who are homeless have these benefits.

SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) is a strategy that helps states to increase access to SSI/SSDI for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through

• Strategic planning
• Training and
• Technical assistance

SOAR currently works in 34 states and Los Angeles County and has success rates on initial application of 70 percent compared to the usual 10-15 percent for applicants who are homeless.

1. A planning meeting of key stakeholders (Social Security Administration, Disability Determination Services, medical providers, state agency leadership, Department of Corrections representatives, and community homeless, health and behavioral health providers) to develop an action plan for implementing the SOAR approach
2. A Train-the-Trainer program that includes use of SAMHSA’s Stepping Stones to Recovery training curriculum
3. Ongoing technical assistance to states and communities for 12-18 months
   

SOAR Is A Different Model That Includes…

1. Collaboration and strategic planning among key stakeholders
2. Training of case managers to assist applicants and gather evidence proactively
3. A step-by-step explanation of SSI application and disability determination process
4. A list of critical components for success; the greater the number of critical components implemented, the higher the rate of success
5. A train-the-trainer program allows for expansion and sustainability
6. Focusing on documenting disability for the initial application. Get it right the first time!
7. Avoiding appeals
8. Providing follow-up observation, technical assistance, and feedback for State’s initial training and ongoing technical support for action plan implementation
9. Tracking outcomes to document success and to help access additional resources

According to the most recent data collected in the Spring of 2008, the SOAR model resulted in an allowance rate of 70%. There were 1857 total decisions.

Click here to view the full report.

For more information e-mail us at soar@prainc.com.