FAQ

The CEUs offered by the SOAR Online Course are approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Yes, you can find samples of completed SSA forms here.

DDS stands for Disability Determination Services. DDS is the state agency charged with making the medical determinations for SSI/SSDI claims. They gather medical information and can order additional testing or consultative exams. DDS operates under Federal SSA guidelines and functions under various state agencies (e.g. Dept. of Labor, Vocational Services, or Educational Services).

We estimate that it will take 16-20 hours to complete the Online Course.  This includes the completion of the Practice Case in which you will submit an SSI/SSDI application packet for a fictitious client to the SOAR TA Center.

When completing the Practice Case in the SOAR Online Course, you are acting as the case worker completing an application for the fictional applicant.  Use the case worker's name and contact information found in the progress/case notes.

You can type "This is a SOAR application" in the Remarks section.  You should also indicate whether the applicant is experiencing homelessness and any other clarifying remarks. 

If you go back to the Practice Case in Class 2 you should be able to delete the documents you uploaded and re-upload the correct versions.  If you have already submitted your entire application packet in Class 7 you will not be able to make any of the changes online.  However, you can email the correct forms to soaronline@prainc.com. 

The date the applicant became disabled is not necessarily the date that he/she was first diagnosed. SSA is looking for the date on which they were unable to work at a substantial gainful level due to their illnessess/conditions.  You should enter the date that they were no longer able to work (or last worked at an SGA level). 

Individual providers can choose whatever title works best for themselves and their agency.  Some examples that we have seen include SOAR practitioner, SOAR benefits specialist, SOAR case manager, and SOAR specialist. Others will use their traditional title (e.g. social worker, case manager, outreach worker) and say that they are SOAR trained or certified in the SOAR process. 

In some communities SOAR Local Leads will provide Review Sessions for individuals who have completed the SOAR Online Course. You may be able to attend one of these sessions. Contact your SOAR State/Local Leads.

However, we have transitioned to the SOAR Online Course as the method of training case workers and we recommend enrolling!