An eye-opening story published by NC State News reported that a recent study of homeless adults found that homeless women are much more at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing Social Security disability benefits than men.
It is often underreported that many homeless individuals suffer from severe mental health disabilities, which has greatly contributed to many of them ending up on the street. In general, homeless individuals face long odds of qualifying for disability benefits for a number of factors. First off, it is extremely difficult for anyone to be approved under Social Security’s stringent disability rules, but even more so for homeless individuals who lack healthcare coverage and other resources to help them maneuver the long and confusing process of a disability claim.
It is important for homeless individuals to know that help is out there for them in filing a disability claim. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration created a program about 10 years ago to assist homeless and low-income adults in obtaining disability benefits. Since the program, known as SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR), was implemented, approval for disability benefits increased by about 50 percent for homeless individuals suffering from mental health disabilities.
As a Social Security disability law office, our attorneys are aware how critical medical evidence is in proving someone is disabled and unable to work. Prior to the creation of SOAR this was a major roadblock for homeless individuals being approved for disability benefits.
“The most important of the critical components was the inclusion of medical records with an application,” said Evan Lowder, a research associate at Indiana University. “Applications with medical records were twice as likely to be approved compared to other applications.”
Although we are doing much better getting homeless individuals the disability benefits they deserve, homeless women are still well behind homeless men. Highlighted through this article published by NC State News, the SOAR program is now investigating ways to reduce the gap between disability approval for homeless men and women.
