In January 2021 we launched a new program: SOAR!
SOAR stands for Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Income, Outreach, Access, and Recovery. The program helps people who have a disability and are at risk for or currently homeless to apply for social security benefits.
“In order for people to have finances to support their goals, maintain housing, and cover their needs, they need to access these benefits and resources,” says Program Manager Laura. When your income is unstable, social security benefits can be an important lifeline to help get your needs met.
Why Did We Launch SOAR?
Applying for benefits can be confusing, frustrating, and time-consuming. People often apply, are denied, and have to go through the process again. Often multiple times. This leaves individuals without income for long stretches of time, which drastically impacts every aspect of their lives, including health and housing.
“It can be such a complicated and overwhelming process, especially if someone is homeless,” says Laura. “Our services support people through that, and make sure they have the info they need to get approved.”
With help, applying for benefits gets easier. Pre-existing SOAR programs have successfully increased the likelihood that individuals will get approved for benefits. We started our SOAR program to bring more of this needed service to our community–and to increase the odds that first-time applications will get approved.
To help increase the likelihood of approval, Guild’s SOAR team walks clients through the application process and helps them gather the information and records necessary to complete the application. We make it easy.
Interested in SOAR?
If you’re interested in SOAR and you have an established relationship with a medical provider, call our Community Access team at (651) 925-8490.
If you haven’t worked with a medical provider in the past, it’s important that you start there in order to have a record of your health. From there, you can reach out to us to get started with SOAR.