Library & Tools

Based on interviews with Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grantees, this report from the VA addresses challenges to serving Veterans in rural areas and proposes strategies and needed resources for overcoming them. 

This issue brief, developed by the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center, discusses best practices for integrating benefit options with community reentry strategies for people with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders to promote post-release success.

SOAR Leaders can use the SOAR for Children: Process Intercepts Infographic when marketing SOAR for Children to new audiences or to identify areas for engaging new stakeholders.

If Social Security denied your application for disability benefits, you may request an appeal. Social Security has four appeal levels. This article discusses the Reconsideration and Hearing by Administrative Law Judge levels.

SOAR extends beyond accessing SSI/SSDI and also encourages employment as a means to increase individual income and further promote recovery. This issue brief explores Individual Placement and Support (IPS), a model of supported employment that has been developed over the past 25 years specifically for people who have behavioral health needs.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) may ask the applicant to complete an SSA-821 Work Activity Report if he/she continued to work after the alleged date of onset. This article provides additional information and tips for assisting applicants with this form. 

SSDI is an insurance program. Therefore, no information about living arrangement or resources is required. Instead, the SSDI application will ask questions about past earnings and entitlement to other benefits. People over 18 years of age who have worked and contributed to the Social Security Trust or others who became disabled before the age of 22 whose parent is deceased or receiving retirement or disability benefits may be eligible.

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding SSI/SSDI benefits for individuals in legal settings.

This issue brief, developed in collaboration with the SOAR TA Center, discusses the disability determination process and medical eligibility criteria for child SSI applications.

SSI/SSDI benefits are important resources for Veterans, as they can receive these benefits in conjunction with, or an an alternative to, VA disability benefits and employment. This is where SOAR can help.