Obtaining Benefits: Help
for Case Managers
Individuals who are homeless and have mental illnesses
often face overwhelming challenges in obtaining disability
benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA).
A complex application system, confusion over eligibility
criteria, and lack of a fixed address can all create
seemingly insurmountable hurdles.
A new SAMHSA manual, Stepping Stones to Recovery:
A Case Manager's Manual for Assisting Adults Who Are
Homeless with Social Security Disability and Supplemental
Security Income Applications, assists case managers
and other professionals in obtaining critical services
for their clients. In addition, SAMHSA's Project for
Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) offers
curriculum training to support use of the manual.
These disability benefits through the Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) programs often make the difference for individuals
who are homeless to take the first steps toward recovery
and employability and a new life of independence.
"Case managers who better understand SSA's requirements
and the need for appropriate documentation can facilitate
the process, decreasing the time SSA takes to issue determinations
and reducing the need for appeals," said Kathryn
Power, M.Ed., Director of SAMHSA's Center for Mental
Health Services (CMHS).
Historically, only about 37 percent of all applicants,
and a much lower percentage of homeless applicants, are
successful the first time they try to get benefits. Although
some applicants appeal, and most who do obtain benefits,
the appeals process can take years—while applicants
continue to go without benefits.
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Stepping Stones Manual
"The manual focuses on the disability eligibility
criteria and the documentation process, so case managers
can help applicants furnish the information that SSA
needs to make a decision and determine proper benefit
amounts," said Fran Randolph, Dr.P.H., Director
of the CMHS Division of Service and Systems Improvement.
The manual also describes ways to ensure that people
approved for disability benefits receive the correct
amount and explains the appeals procedure if an individual
believes an application has been denied in error.
"Although the manual is mainly for case managers
working with individuals who are homeless," Dr.
Randolph said, "the information will be useful for
anyone who provides assistance with the disability benefit
application process, as well as for applicants themselves."
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SOAR-ing to New Heights
"SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR)
is a new SAMHSA training initiative that provides a key
step in increasing access to SSA disability benefits,"
according to SOAR Project Director Deborah Dennis. Using
the Stepping Stones to Recovery curriculum,
trainers are now equipping case managers across the Nation
with the knowledge they need to put together successful
and timely benefits applications.
The curriculum gives an overview of the SSI/SSDI programs,
introducing terms used by SSA. It provides strategies
for engaging applicants, including interview techniques.
Special attention is paid in the curriculum to co-occurring
mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
The SOAR project conducted strategic planning forums
in 13 states and the city of
Los Angeles between September 2005 and January 2006.
Each forum included SSA and Disability Determination
Services representatives as well as Health Care for the
Homeless grantees and PATH grantees.
In December of last year, the SOAR project held a Train-the-Trainer
program to increase the capacity of states to train frontline
staff in preparing disability applications. Forty-seven
trainers from 14 states participated.
"This curriculum and the strategic plans that were
developed during the forums are designed to increase
access to SSI/SSDI for homeless people to rates of 60
to 95 percent on initial application," added Michael
Hutner, Ph.D., Director of the PATH program.
SAMHSA staff will track outcomes to ensure dissemination
of promising practices.
For a print version of the manual, contact SAMHSA's
National Mental Health Information Center at P.O. Box
42557, Washington, DC 20015. Telephone: 1 (800) 789-2647
or 1 (866) 889-2647 (TTY). The manual is also on SAMHSA's
Web site at http://pathprogram.samhsa.gov/SOAR/
manual.asp. 
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