# Presentation: 720112

## Oklahoma Initiatives For Individuals Who Are Homeless When Applying For Social Security Disability ProgramsNoel Tyler

- Oklahoma Initiatives For Individuals Who Are Homeless When Applying For Social Security Disability ProgramsNoel Tyler

- Oklahoma Disability Determination Division
-       Division of the Department of Rehabilitation Services

## Our goal is to coordinate a simplified process which meets the needs of the individual applicant, WHATEVER their situation. 

## Who is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

- Blind or disabled children
- Blind or disabled adults
- With limited income and resources

## Access to the SSI Application

- By phone: 1-800-772-1213
- In person at any Social Security District Office
- Can apply over the Internet
- DDS and SSA personnel visit shelters to take applications

## Oklahoma DDS 

- Sole purpose is to determine medical eligibility for Social Security disability benefits and in 2004, we processed 59,051 cases for Oklahoma
- 100 adjudicative specialists
- 21 medical consultants (M.D. and Ph.D.)
- Team of professional relations specialists who serve as liaisons

## DDS Professional Relations Specialists have increased their educational outreach efforts by:

Making personal contact with servicing agencies
Attending and/or facilitating Town Hall Meetings to provide information about qualifications and the information needed for the application process
Visiting individual Social Service Agencies to explain rules, regulations, and standards to help agencies better serve their clients
Organizing seminars with multiple agencies in attendance to provide information

- Making personal contact with servicing agencies
- Attending and/or facilitating Town Hall Meetings to provide information about qualifications and the information needed for the application process
- Visiting individual Social Service Agencies to explain rules, regulations, and standards to help agencies better serve their clients
- Organizing seminars with multiple agencies in attendance to provide information

- Collaborative & Coordination Initiatives

## Focused Procedures

- Presumptive disability — gets monetary benefits to the claimant quicker, if it appears the case will be allowed
- 2001  -  10.5%
- 2002  -  08.1%
- 2003  -  24.1%
- Special consideration and identification of homeless cases

## The Social Security Disability Program is not Diagnosis–driven 

- We must know an applicant’s functional capacity to do work-related activities
- Work-related activities include the applicant’s capacity for: understanding and memory, sustained concentration and persistence, social interaction, adaptation, and the ability to stand, sit, lift, carry, walk, handle objects, hear, speak, and travel

## Acceptable Medical Sources

- Licensed physicians
- Licensed osteopaths
- Licensed or certified psychologists
- Independent general practice
- School psychologists
- Licensed optometrists
- Licensed podiatrists
- Hospital, clinic, or other health facilities

- How is Function Evaluated?

## Other Types of Acceptable Sources of Evidence

- Other Types of Acceptable Sources of Evidence

- Social workers
- Social Service agencies
- Parents/relatives, neighbors, friends, clergy
- Audiologists
- Speech and language pathologists
- Chiropractors
- Nurses
- Physiotherapists
- VR Counselors

##  The Oklahoma DDS

- Noel Tyler, Administrator
- Professional Relations Specialists
- Irene Martin, Malcolm Stoughtenborough
- Kathleen Pierson, Bruce E. Smith
- Phone: 1-800-877-9977 or 405-419-2200
- E-mail: noel.tyler@ssa.gov
- Fax: (405)419-2785
- P.O. Box 24400, Oklahoma City, OK  73124-0400
- Office hours: 8-5 Monday-Friday

- For more information, contact: