Increase SSI/SSDI Approval Rates
updates
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.
Watch the video below and then read more about SOAR!
Recent Questions About SOAR
Q: I am having a hard time finding my Appointed Representative ID to complete the SSA-1696
A.
Most SOAR specialists will not have a Rep ID because we do not charge applicants a fee for SOAR assistance, so that section can be left blank.
Q: How do you submit the MSR for online applications for SSDI? Also, how do you complete a SOAR application when SSA requires an applicant to go in for an interview and that is where they fill out the application? Do I use the forms I printed from training
A.
Great questions! For the MSR, there currently isn’t a way to submit that online unless you are registered with DDS to use Electronic Records Express . Through that system, you can submit medical records and additional documentation by uploading it to the ERE system. I recommend reaching out to your...
Q: Are there any sources of income that are not counted towards your SSI claim (i.e., VA Disability, Child Support)?
A.
Yes, there are a number of unearned income (e.g. income derived from a source other than working) exclusions in the SSI program. There is a comprehensive list here, with links to more information about each source: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830099 . VA Disability payments are not...
Q: How do I get started writing the medical summary report? It is so intimidating.
A.
Trying to write the Medical Summary Report (MSR), a key component of the SOAR approach, can seem challenging at first. Everyone is going to have a different approach to writing that works for them. We recommend starting with the Medical Summary Report Worksheet as a template. Work on only one...