Increase SSI/SSDI Approval Rates
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Welcome
| COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR SOAR PROVIDERS |
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is a national program designed to increase access to the disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for eligible adults and children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder.
The goals of the SOAR program speak directly to one of SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiatives - Recovery Supports. SOAR seeks to end homelessness through increased access to SSI/SSDI income supports, directly addressing SAMHSA’s assertion: “To recover, people need a safe stable place to live.” This is essential, and for many persons in recovery accessing benefits is a first step. But SOAR extends beyond and also encourages employment as a means to increase individual income and promote recovery in line with the SAMHSA assertion that: “to recover, people need meaningful work and the ability to enhance their skills through education.”
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Recent Questions About SOAR
Q: In the SOAR Online Course, do I fill out my name and contact information on the SSA forms, or do I pretend to be the case worker?
A.
When completing the Practice Case in the SOAR Online Course, you are acting as the case worker completing an application for the fictional applicant. Use the case worker's name and contact information found in the progress/case notes.
Q: I am a representative. Can I use the SOAR forms if my client is low-income but not currently homeless?
A.
All of our resources are open-access and free to use when helping applicants. However, we request that you only use the “SOAR” label at Social Security when you are working with individuals who are experiencing or at-risk for homelessness. More on how we define homelessness and at-risk can be found...
Q: Is a Section 8 housing unit/voucher qualify as transitional housing for purpose of meeting homelessness definition?
A.
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are not time-limited and so typically are not used in transitional housing. Individuals and families who are using housing vouchers may be eligible for SOAR assistance if they do not have their own income that would allow them to remain stably housed without the...
Q: How do I download SSA forms from the SOAR Online Course to my computer where I can complete them?
A.
All of the forms required for the SOAR online course are located in Class 1 on the “ Meet your Client ” page. Right-click on each file, choose "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if using Firefox), and save in an easily-accessible location on your computer. The forms may also be opened as pdfs and...