SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is a national program that assists eligible adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness to apply for SSI/SSDI disability benefits. The program was begun to help address the low benefit approval rates for people experiencing homelessness. As of 2017, the approval rate for applications done through SOAR in North Carolina is over four times higher than applications completed outside of SOAR.
The SOAR program provides training to caseworkers, who in turn work directly with clients to prepare and submit SSI/SSDI applications. In North Carolina, NCCEH provides SOAR caseworker training, supports SOAR-trained caseworkers, and tracks the outcomes of SOAR cases.
In order to transition people out of homelessness, we know that they will need affordable housing, access to appropriate services, and an adequate income. For many North Carolinians who are experiencing homelessness, working a full-time job is not an option due to some type of disability.
For these people, federal disability benefits will be their ticket out of homelessness. Disability benefits, which include a monthly check and health insurance, can help individuals and families access affordable housing, needed healthcare and mental health services, as well as provide some income to help pay for living expenses. In shelters across North Carolina, we see people hoping to receive disability benefits. They are often frustrated and confused by what can be a long, disappointing process.
National rates of approval for disability (SSI/SSDI) applications are approximately 35% for first-time applicants. Among the homeless population, however, the approval rates are significantly lower - closer to 15%, despite the high percentage of people experiencing homelessness who are prominently disabled.
We are often perplexed by the denials from disability. We can clearly see that a person has some sort of condition that renders them unable to work. So why can't Social Security see that? Do people really have to be denied three times? It just doesn't make any sense.
The truth is, applying for disability benefits can be a tough process. For people experiencing homelessness, it can prove even more difficult. Lack of access to a phone or a permanent address, plus the transitory nature of homelessness make it difficult for SSA and DDS to communicate with applicant. Obtaining copies of records or even simple identification can be a struggle for a person experiencing homelessness. Even the nature of one's disability may make it impossible to follow the process for applying for disability.
But the real truth is, the process has seemed difficult because we have not understood how the process works - until now.
SAMHSA has contracted with Policy Research Associates to develop and facilitate a program called SOAR - SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery. Communities that have participated in the SOAR training and implemented the SOAR technology fully have had similar results, documenting up to 93% approval rates within 3 months for people experiencing homelessness who were generally considered to be eligible, and 65% approval rates within 3 months for people experiencing homelessness who were thought by caseworkers to be on the cusp of meeting eligibility standards.
North Carolina has been a SOAR state since 2007. With over 500 caseworkers now trained through NC SOAR and 20 dedicated SOAR caseworker positions in our state, we are seeing results. To find a SOAR trained caseworker near you, please visit our Contact a SOAR Caseworker webpage.