FAQ

Yes, someone receiving retirement can apply for SSDI benefits if they elected to take early retirement and are receiving a reduced amount. If they retired at full retirement age then their SSDI benefit would be the same and there is no need to apply. 

They would need to prove that they are medically disabled and unable to work at SGA. (Some people who take early retirement benefits are ready to stop working but don’t meet the definition of disability). 

If he is eligible for unemployment and the amount is more than the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR)*, then he should take the higher amount (unemployment) as long as he can.  The medical approval for SSI will last for 12 months, so if the unemployment only lasts a few months, he can always reapply for SSI (the non-medical application) and SSA will use the medical decision from his last application. 

*This figure is updated annually and can be found at SSA Annual Updates.

Employment while incarcerated (with no access to the community) will not appear in an individual's work history with SSA. These earnings are not taxed and will not be counted as earned income when applying for SSI/SSDI. We encourage you to include these jobs as "specialized job training" on question #5c on the SSA-3368/Adult Disability Report.

Employment while participating in a work release program in the community (while still under the supervision of a department of corrections) will be considered part of one's work history. Taxes are paid on this income and it is considered as earned income.

His current living arrangement is an institution. However, if by the time you submit the completed application to SSA he will have been released, you can indicate that he is homeless on the SSA-8000. You can always add additional information in the remarks section to explain that his living arrangement is changing.

No. SSA would find that the claimant is ineligible for disability benefits because they are able to work at or above SGA level. At Step 1 of the Sequential Evaluation, the applicant would be found ineligible for benefits which includes both cash and health insurance.

All of the SOAR Critical Components and techniques learned in the SOAR Online Course can be used for any SSI/SSDI application. However, in order to indicate to SSA/DDS that it is a "SOAR" claim, the applicant must be experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as defined here.

Further, you want to be sure that you are following any additional steps as required by your State or community’s established SOAR process.

People from varying backgrounds, education and experience can successfully assist with SSI/SSDI applications using the SOAR process.  It takes the right training and commitment!

Case managers can and do successfully represent applicants in the initial application process and the appeals process.  

Attorneys in some communities are key members of the SOAR community and also assist SOAR applicants at no charge. 

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. 

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.

There is no need to make up any details about your fictional applicant. All of the information you need to complete the Practice Case application packet is provided to you. Take care to review all materials available on the Practice Case pages at the end of Classes 1-4. This includes applicant interviews, medical records, and progress notes.