Persistence Leads to SOAR Success in DC

Tanya* had experienced homelessness and incarcerations for much of her adult life. She came to JPAP shortly after her release from jail. She had already applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on her own. JPAP immediately helped Tanya apply for and successfully obtain Interim Disability Assistance, available from the DC Department of Human Services. JPAP then began the SOAR process—requesting all of Tanya’s prior medical records to write a Medical Summary Report. JPAP liaised with Tanya’s medical providers and the disability claims examiner while maintaining regular contact with her, which proved to be a challenge. JPAP successfully submitted all of Tanya’s records and a physician-signed MSR to her claims examiner and took Tanya to a Social Security Administration-ordered Consultative Exam.

In the time JPAP has known Tanya, she has been attacked, robbed, and had all of her belongings stolen multiple times. She has been hospitalized several times for a variety of physical health issues caused by AIDS and her other health conditions. She had switched case managers at different agencies she had worked with on four or five occasions because she has great difficulty trusting and developing relationships due to past trauma. Nonetheless, Tanya stuck with JPAP throughout the entire application process and kept positive relationships with the JPAP team members.

Tanya was approved for SSI! Securing SSI for Tanya will absolutely change her life. It means that she will no longer have to worry about homelessness, making her much less vulnerable and much less likely to be incarcerated. For the first time in her life, Tanya will have a steady income.