Collaboration with SSA and DDS: Something for Everyone

Issue Brief Overview

The SOAR approach is designed to address many of the challenges that the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Disability Determination Services (DDS) face when serving people who are experiencing homelessness. SOAR providers take many steps to help shorten the application processing time by providing complete information and avoiding consultative examinations (CEs). Focusing on “getting it right the first time” avoids re-applications and appeals, which put additional burdens on the system.

Local SOAR projects can assist SSA and DDS to make better and quicker decisions for claimants who are homeless and, similarly, SSA and DDS can help to streamline the disability determination process for SOAR providers and the applicants they serve.