SOAR eNewsletter - June 2014

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` June 2014 Hot off the Press! New Issue Brief: Effective SOAR Representation for Social Security Appeals Despite your best efforts as a SOAR practitioner, applications you submit for SSI/SSDI may be denied. Or, perhaps you are involved with an applicant whose appeal is already pending with the SSA. SOAR practitioners are often well positioned to assist with Social Security appeals given their relationships with applicants and knowledge of their impairments and related functional limitations. Pam Heine, the SOAR TA Center’s subject matter expert on appeals, has developed an informative issue brief on the topic. This issue brief covers information that providers need to know in order to understand the SSA appeals process, gain insight to why claims are denied and what to do when the deadline to file an appeal is missed. This issue brief also describes how SOAR practitioners who handle SSI/SSDI claims at the hearing level can do their applicants a great service by submitting a properly documented On the Record (OTR) request. The issue brief is available on the SOAR website at http://soarworks.prainc.com/article/effective-soar-representation-social-security-appeals. SOAR Leadership Academy: Moving Forward The Leadership Academy is an opportunity to change and strengthen the roles of state and local leads from one of training to one of sustainability, support, quality review and tracking outcomes. On May 6 -8, 2014, the latest SOAR Leadership Academy was held in Baltimore, Maryland. Twelve states were represented by 22 participants, including State Team Leads, SOAR Disability Coordinators, and CoC coordinators. The Leadership Academy provides local leads with the tools needed to support SOAR initiatives in their localities. This was the third Leadership Academy hosted by the TA Center. Our next SOAR Leadership Academy will be held September 10 - 12, 2014, in Pittsburgh, PA. Please contact the SOAR TA Center or your State Team Lead if you are interested in attending. In This Issue Success Stories SSA Updates Center Events Quick Links SOAR Website Contact us Trainings SSA SOARWEBINARS Applications Peer Supports Veterans Employment Criminal Justice Sharing Our Successes SOAR News and Accomplishments Maryland - Kecia Daniels’ patience and perseverance is an example of how SOAR can help to stabilize families. She writes, “My second SOAR applicant was a 19 year old young lady experiencing homelessness whose symptoms made it difficult to help her. She would start her case and then ‘fire me.’ She moved out of the area 3 times to always later call me for help. This final time she called me the day after Christmas after having given birth in October. I was able to help her and her child into the homeless shelter and started her SOAR case again! In March she was approved for SSI and Medicaid and she is now in a stable environment with her son. Her representative payee helps her maintain her psychiatric appointments and her son is thriving with community supports in place. This young lady thought to be a lost cause, but turned out to be my first success story.” Great work Kecia! Thank you for sharing. Colorado - Colorado Disability Benefits Support Program (DBS) is a nonprofit agency that serves as the Colorado SOAR State Lead Agency. Peter Pike, Executive Director, reports that they have had great success securing funding for SOAR from State and local governments. DBS has partnered with the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health to secure funding from the Cooperative Agreement to Benefit Homeless Individuals and will be contracted to provide SOAR services for this program. As well, the agency will be entering their second contract year with Jefferson County Human Services to provide SSI/SSDI application assistance for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families using the SOAR model. Colorado legislators recently passed SB14-012 called Aid to Needy Disabled (AND) that funds up to $250,000 to pilot SOAR SSI application assistance in three local counties. Finally, HB 11-1216 allows the state to auction off the registration rights to specific license plate letter and number combinations and stipulates that revenue from the auction will be used to fund organizations that provide SSI/SSDI and long term Medicaid application assistance. If you have a SOAR-related success story to share, e-mail pheine@prainc.com SOAR Learning Community Calls SOAR Learning Community Calls focus on the administrative aspects of running a SOAR program. Those interested in improving their SOAR outcomes are encouraged to attend. The first two calls on Steering Committees and Funding and Sustainability were recorded and all materials can be accessed here: http://soarworks.prainc.com/article/soar-learning-community-call-series Our next Learning Community Call, Supporting Quality Applications, will be held on Tuesday, July 22 3-4:30 p.m. EDT. SOAR TA Center staff will offer successful models for quality review of SOAR assisted SSI/SSDI applications from around the country including use of the Application Review Rubric, MSR review, case review meetings, outcomes reports and the SOAR TA Center Liaisons. A guided activity will be completed to practice/review quality review skills. This call is intended for individuals who actively work on SOAR assisted SSI/SSDI applications or those who support or supervise SOAR trained caseworkers. You can register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soar-learning-community-call-3-supporting-quality-applications-tickets-10784517783 Social Security Administration (SSA) Updates May 7, 2014 - Acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin was the keynote at a Capitol Hill presentation by SSA executives on the Disability Program. This presentation provided an opportunity for Congressional staff to learn about disability programs. The briefing was a huge success, with appearances by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Hatch, as well as Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Becerra. To view the agenda for the event and the presentation slides, click here: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/AGENDA%20and%20SLIDES__DI%20Briefing%20May%202014%20FINAL.pdf Upcoming Center Events SOAR Learning Community Calls Supporting Quality Applications, Tuesday, July 22, 3:00-4:30 p.m. (EDT) Register Here

Upcoming SOAR Leadership Academies

September 10-12, 2014 in Pittsburgh, PA

Please contact the SOAR TA Center or your State Team Lead if you are interested in attending.