Increase SSI/SSDI Approval Rates
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| 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.
Watch the video below and then read more about SOAR!
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Recent Questions About SOAR
Q: How do you organize the paperwork for an application while in process?
A.
We recommend creating a case-file folder for each applicant, specifically for SSA and SOAR paperwork. It is helpful if this folder has separate sections to organize your material. While you are gathering information for the application, you can store your interview notes, signed agency releases of...
Q: How does the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center calculate average days to decision for SOAR-assisted SSI/SSDI applications?
A.
When reporting data in our SOAR national outcomes, we calculate days to decision from the time the application is turned in to SSA until DDS makes a decision on the application. The receipt from the Online Disability Benefit Application will show the date the application was received by SSA and the...
Q: I already have medical records from another provider in my chart/file. Can I send those to SSA now that I am helping this individual apply for SSI/SSDI benefits?
A.
Most states prohibit the re-release or “further release” of records once they have been released to an entity that originally requested them. However, if you send a request for records using the SOAR Process, which includes (1) a signed SSA-827 Authorization to Disclose Information and (2) a signed...
Q: If someone has a pending claim for SSDI under appeal with an attorney involved, should/can a SOAR application be submitted?
A.
SSA does not allow an applicant to have multiple applications pending at the same time. If the applicant chooses to have a new initial SOAR-assisted application for SSDI benefits submitted, then the applicant would need to withdraw their current application. It is important that the applicant...