The SOAR Model: Critical Components

Applicants experiencing homelessness may not have a phone or a place to receive mail.

The SSA-1696: Appointment of Representative form is used to authorize the case worker as the applicant's representative. The completion of this form allows the case worker to receive copies of all notices mailed to the applicant, communicate directly with SSA and DDS to provide additional information needed, and obtain records from the applicant's SSA application file.

Without the help of SOAR, DDS must solicit records from treatment providers reported by the applicant. The applicant may not provide sufficient information and/or it can take a long time for providers to respond to DDS.

DDS examiners must base their determinations on the medical and other evidence available. In order to provide SSA/DDS with sufficient medical evidence of the applicant's disability, SOAR case workers collect and submit medical records as part of the SSI/SSDI application. This ensures that SSA and DDS receive the information that they need to make a decision. Through communication with the applicant, as well as community collaborations with local providers and hospitals, SOAR case workers can often access medical records faster and ensure that the information is relevant and complete.

SSA and DDS will never meet the applicant - this is an opportunity for the SOAR case worker to tell the applicant's "story."

The Medical Summary Report (MSR) is a SOAR signature tool and key to a successful application. It is a letter written by the SOAR case worker, and submitted to SSA as part of the SSI/SSDI application packet. The MSR provides an overview of the applicant's life story and how they came to be in their current circumstances. It provides a succinct, comprehensive summary of the applicant’s medical treatment history and describes any functional impairments that stem from mental or physical health conditions and affect their ability to work.

An MSR that is co-signed by an Acceptable Medical Source (AMS) will be considered a “medical opinion."

Acceptable Medical Sources (AMS) include physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and audiologists. These providers do not need to write the MSR and are not responsible for determining whether an applicant meets SSA’s disability criteria. The MSR is still a powerful piece of evidence, even if a co-signature cannot be obtained.

SOAR strives for complete and high-quality applications. Our mantra: "Get it right the first time!"

The SOAR model recommends that a SOAR-trained mentor or supervisor review the application packet prior to submission to SSA. This ensures that all forms are correctly completed and that the MSR thoroughly links the applicant’s diagnosis to their limitations in functioning.