# Presentation: 087958

## SSI and Chronic Homelessness

- Presenters:
- Jeremy Rosen, Staff Attorney
- National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
- Yvonne Perret, LCSW-C
- Advocacy and Training Center

## SSI and Chronic Homelessness

- Definition: people who have been homeless for at least one year and who are disabled; many in this population should be eligible for SSI benefits.
- 25%-30% of homeless persons have a mental disability
- 46% of homeless persons have chronic physical health problems
- But ironically, too many people experiencing long term homelessness are not receiving SSI due to barriers.
- 40% of homeless persons may be qualified for SSI; 11% receive it (1996 ICH survey)

## SSI and Chronic Homelessness (2)

- How can disability benefits help end long term homelessness?
- Determination of disability qualifies people for additional public and subsidized housing programs.
- SSI provides income (up to $552 per month nationally, plus supplements in many states) that can be used to pay rent in supportive housing or other public/private housing.
- SSDI can mean even more income.

## SSI and Chronic Homelessness (3)

- In 38 states, receipt of even $1 in SSI means automatic receipt of Medicaid, to cover health care and other supportive service costs; in other states, a separate application for Medicaid is required, but in most cases receipt of SSI is sufficient evidence to qualify a person.  After a 24 month waiting period, receipt of SSDI brings access to Medicare.
- SSI eligibility also guarantees food stamp eligibility, with a waiver of work requirements.

## Barriers to Receipt of SSI

- Why don’t eligible people qualify for SSI?
- Complexity of application forms.
- Lack of medical documentation of disability, or inability to access existing medical documentation.
- Inability to remain in contact with SSA.
- Length of disability determination process; it may take 1-2 years for an applicant to reach the hearing stage.

## Barriers to Receipt of SSI (2)

- Lack of identification or permanent address.
- Incarceration.
- Drug and/or alcohol use.

## Removing Barriers / Lessons Learned!

- Consumers need help to expedite applications
- Homeless persons simply will not get through this process alone.
- Case managers and other program staff need to assist with completing applications, obtaining and submitting medical records, and having evaluations done (consultative exams can be done by treating physician at a shelter, clinic, or other homeless service program).

## Removing Barriers/Lessons Learned! (2)

- Consumers need help! (continued)
- Case managers can provide key functional evidence, especially important in mental health cases; they can also get reports signed by doctors to make them medical evidence.
- Case managers should develop relationships with DDS staff handling the claim, so that DDS can tell them when more evidence is needed.

## Removing Barriers (3) ! Legal Rights of Homeless Persons

- Homeless persons _**DO NOT**_ need a photo ID in order to apply for SSI.
- Homeless persons are eligible for SSI even if they have used or are currently using drugs and/or alcohol, as long as they can be found disabled due to physical and/or mental impairments that would remain _**if**_ drug/alcohol use were to stop.  Note that drug/alcohol use does not actually have to stop.
- SSI recipients cannot receive benefits for any month in which they are in jail (or another public institution) for the entire month – but if they are out for even one day, they are eligible to receive SSI for that month.  Benefits are terminated after a suspension of 12 consecutive months.

## Removing Barriers (4) ! Legal Rights of Homeless Persons

- Homeless persons _**DO NOT**_ need a permanent address in order to apply for SSI.
- Homeless persons can receive SSI while living on the street or in a privately run homeless shelter.
- Homeless persons can receive SSI for any six months, out of a 9 month period, where they are living in a public emergency homeless shelter.  A month only counts against this limit if the person is living in the shelter every day of that month.

## Tools To Help Access SSI

- SSI Manual and Toolkit
- Manual being prepared by me, under contract to SAMHSA (PATH program).
- Intended for non-attorney case management staff, to walk them through the entire process of helping homeless persons apply for and receive SSI, as early in the application/appeals process as possible.  Should be available in early to mid 2004, at no cost.
- A training toolkit, which can be used to present workshops on this material, is being produced by Yvonne (also for SAMHSA); should be available later in 2004.

## Tools to Help Access SSI (2)

- SSA Pre-Release program
- Jails or prisons sign “pre-release” agreements with local SSA field offices.
- Jail/prison agrees to provide SSA with names of potential SSI applicants.
- SSA agrees to come to jail/prison and take SSI applications _before_ prisoners are released.
- Idea is to expedite these applications in order to ensure that initial decisions can be made “pre-release.”
- Program is under-utilized for several reasons.
- SSA FO’s are too busy – they don’t promote it.
- Jails/prisons are either unaware or uninterested.

## Tools to Help Access SSI (3)

- SSA HOPE NOFA
- Initial appropriation of $8 million, being distributed through a competitive grant process.
- Goal of grant program is to test best practices in expediting SSI eligibility for homeless persons.
- Applications were due on November 25; awards in March / April, 2004.  Likely to be approximately 30 awards, of approximately $200,000.
- Depending on FY 2004 appropriations, new round of grants may be funded next year.

## Tools to Help Access SSI (4)

- SSI outreach and application training
- Yvonne and I provide training and technical assistance on these issues.
- SSI listserv
- Operated by NLCHP.
- No cost to become a member.
- Keeps people updated on national, state, and local developments re: SSI and homelessness.
- Email _[jrosen@nlchp.org](mailto:jrosen@nlchp.org)__ to join._