This workshop presents information on increasing benefits’ income for homeless adults, families, and seniors. Speakers will discuss a range of programs and strategies, including implementing the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery Initiative (SOAR) in your community.

1. Helping People Access Public BenefitsSOAR: SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access and Recovery Denise Neunaber, Executive Director North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness securing resources encouraging public dialogue advocating for public policy change North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness 919.755.4393 www.ncceh.org

2. What is SSI & SSDI? SSI = Supplemental Security Income Federal disability program, administered by SSA, that provides benefits to low income people who are disabled, blind, or elderly SSDI = Social Security Disability Income Federal disability program, administered by SSA, that provides benefits to blind or disabled individuals who are “insured” based on contributions paid into the Social Security trust fund, as authorized by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

3. What is SOAR? SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) is a strategy that helps states to increase access to SSI/SSDI for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through: Strategic planning Training and Technical assistance North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

6. In North Carolina, 79% approval rate in an average of 4 monthsNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

8. SSI/SSDI application and disability determination process can seem complex

9. Disconnect between the experience of homelessness and the disability application process

10. Medical information is often very incomplete

11. Appeals take years and many potentially eligible people give up and do not appealNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

13. Step-by-step explanation of SSI/SSDI application and disability determination process

14. Focuses on the initial application – “Get it right the first time!”

15. Fills in the missing links for SSA/DDS by linking illness/diagnosis to functioning

16. Focuses on documenting the disabilityNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

17. Key Resources SOAR Provides to DDS Medical Documents Medical Summary Reports Case Managers as trained 1696 Representatives North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

18. Functional Information Impact of person’s illness and resulting impairment Based on collection of personal, medical, and collateral information Medical Summary Report clearly explains: Nature of impairment How/if linked to illness Impact on functioning and life, especially regarding ability to work North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

19. NCCEH’s Role with SOAR Assist communities to strategically develop and support designated SOAR Case Manager positions Provide trainings and technical assistance to SOAR Case Managers Facilitate relationships between SOAR Case Managers, SSA, and DDS in order to improve the SOAR process North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

20. Implementing SOAR in NC Case manager training & technical assistance SOAR Essentials training SOAR Case Manager Certification SOAR Community Certification New SSA & DDS Process specific to SOAR cases North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

22. Educated case managers & medical community; increased completeness of information

23. Created partnerships with Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services Offices

24. Created a new process for Homeless SSI/SSDI applications

25. New dedicated positions that focus on assisting individuals homeless or at-risk of homelessness obtain benefitsNorth Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness

26. SOAR assistance for your community SOAR Technical Assistance Initiative www.prainc.com/soar/ SOAR@prainc.com www.ncceh.org/ncsoar Denise Neunaber denise@ncceh.org North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness