SAMHSA SOAR

Icon about model OAT & Outcomes

The goal of SOAR is to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults, or SSI for eligible 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. Data collected from states and communities that implement the SOAR model provide evidence that SOAR Works!

National Outcomes

Cumulative Outcomes (2006-2022)

Over the last 17 years, the SOAR approach has been used to assist over 100,000 people who were experiencing or at risk of homelessness to apply for Social Security's disability programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Of the applications assisted using SOAR, 65 percent, representing 53,877 persons have been approved for SSI/SSDI upon initial application since SOAR began. An additional 8,567 persons, whose applications were denied initially, were approved on reconsideration or appeal. Taken together, since 2006, the SOAR approach is responsible for assisting 62,444 persons who were experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access Social Security disability benefits.

2022 Outcomes

In 2022, there were 2,920 approvals on initial applications. Decisions on SOAR initial applications were received in an average of 153 days with an allowance rate of 68 percent. This compares to the initial allowance rate of 30.8 percent for all persons aged 18-64 who applied for SSI or SSDI in 2019. 

We estimate that in 2022 alone, SSI/SSDI for the individuals served by SOAR brought $630 million into the economies of participating states and localities. 

See our 2022 National SOAR Outcomes Issue Brief and Infographic!

Tracking Your Outcomes

Tracking outcomes is an essential piece of funding and sustainability efforts. Sharing concrete evidence with potential community partners and funders will allow you to expand and sustain your SOAR initiative.

SOAR Online Application Tracking (OAT) Program 

The OAT program tracks decisions of SOAR-assisted SSI/SSDI initial applications and appeals. It is FREE, easy to use, and is located on a secure server with no personally identifiable information.

  • SOAR case managers can easily record their use of SOAR Critical Components and outcomes for their SOAR-assisted SSI/SSDI applications - takes 5 minutes or less to enter data on each application.
  • Agency, Local, and State SOAR Leaders can monitor SOAR activity and run reports that can be used for quality review, sustainability, or training efforts.

For More Information

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