Library & Tools

How substance use is considered in the disability determination process has changed substantially over the years. This article dispels several widely-held myths about how DDS views substance use (such as you have to be clean and sober to get benefits), and its impact on the application process.

The SOAR Online Course provides a unique alternative to in-person trainings. There is no cost for this program.

Here is some helpful information if you are having trouble filling out and saving the SSA forms for the SOAR Online Course.

Documenting substance use for an application is not just about finding out how much the person uses or how often.

Throughout the SOAR Online Course there are several videos for you to view. Here are a few options for viewing these videos, as well as some troubleshooting tips.

A key component of the SOAR model is developing strong collaborations with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Disability Determination Services (DDS). The SOAR TA Center has created a guide to help!

Is your agency looking to hire a SOAR Benefits Specialist?  Take a look at this Sample Job Description!

This article explains how you can promote SOAR with your Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) office to help ease their backlog and workload issues, while at the same time, improving access to expedited decisions for SOAR applicants.

As we all do our best to address the barriers associated with racism and inequity, we must accept the discomfort that comes with the effort to learn about ourselves, learn about each other, and grow to create a psychologically safe environment in which staff can work and thrive. Here are some suggestions for improving staff engagement by integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our SOAR work.

When employers recognize the value of SOAR case workers and coordinators by offering them equitable salaries, the benefits go beyond the individual case worker.