From Investigating Inequities In Accessing Social Security Disability Insurance And Supplemental Security Income For Adults Experiencing Homelessness, an M.S. thesis presented by Anna Booras at Boston University:
... The primary objective of this research study was to investigate applicant and application characteristics associated with disability outcomes among patients at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) Barbara McInnis House (BMH) Medical Respite Unit and to explore the effect of advocacy in increasing access to benefits for those who qualify. ...
It was shown that advocacy and assistance with the application process for SSI and SSDI produced an allowance rate for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness considered in this study that was almost twice the allowance rate for the homeless population in the state of Massachusetts and was significantly higher than the state general population. Despite the increase in allowance rate, the application determination times were significantly longer for the population of interest in this study as compared to the general population. ... Medical advocacy letters were found to aid in access to benefits for those with mental health primary diagnoses. ...
In general, consultative examinations were associated with extremely lower odds of approval with only a 16.67% allowance rate overall. ...
Programs such as Ms. Booras was investigating are great but there's not
enough of them to make a dent nationally in the disabled
homeless population. Private representation is critical for this population. For a long time, I've been telling colleagues who practice Social Security law that homeless clients may present some challenges but that you can win their cases and make money by helping them. This study is proof of what I have seen in my practice. My name and telephone number gets passed around at the South Wilmington Street Homeless Shelter in Raleigh, the biggest one locally. I'm happy to have the business. If you practice Social Security law, don't shy away from homeless clients.
4 comments:
The sounds of the crickets is refreshing.
I have a theory at least 50 percent of the current homeless population qualifies and could get on SSI. I volunteer at a lot of homeless shelters in Los Angeles. Here are the biggest hurdles.
1. Getting around any drugs/alcohol abuse.
2. Just getting the homeless to treat.
Those 2 hurdles actually are much tougher than they sound.
Communication is a recurring problem. The homeless miss CEs and hearings because their living situation is fluid. How do you successfully communicate with them?
The communication is a problem, but they just have to check in with you frequently. The homeless person I represent would have been glad for a CE. The medical treatment for them is no worse than for many of our clients who don't have any money and can't afford medical attention.
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