Helpful Social Security Resources for People Experiencing Homelessness
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 21, 2024
November is National Homelessness Awareness Month. Social Security provides helpful resources to serve the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness.
We are proud to be one of 19 federal agencies that partner with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). We are committed to its admirable mission to prevent and end homelessness in America.
People with health conditions, including severe mental health issues, are more likely to experience homelessness. They can die nearly 30 years earlier than healthier Americans, according to Interagency Council data.
If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk
Visit our People Experiencing Homelessness & Their Service Providers webpage to find links to housing assistance programs and national organizations that can help with the disability application. You’ll also find specific information for veterans, youth aging out of foster care, people who are exiting criminal justice settings, and those who are temporarily institutionalized.
If you are homeless and have a disability, you have the same rights and privileges when you apply for disability as someone who is not homeless. Learn how to apply at the links below:
Please tell us when you apply if you are experiencing homelessness, so we can better assist you with your application.
If you help people experiencing homelessness
Service providers and other advocates who assist people experiencing homelessness with accessing the SSDI and SSI programs may want to check out the:
- SSI Spotlight on Homelessness.
- People Experiencing Homelessness & Their Service Providers webpage for:
- Ways you can help in the application process and after an application is approved.
- Research about SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR), a federally funded program for eligible adults with a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and a co-occurring substance use disorder. (You can learn more about the SOAR program in a guest blog and a post from one of its founders.)
- USICH’s document outlining key strategies for connecting people experiencing homelessness to our disability programs.
- Information for People Helping Others webpage to learn about benefits, the application and appeals processes, online services, overpayments, and much more. Watch our 4-part video series for instructions on completing a third-party application.
- Information for Groups and Organizations webpage with outreach materials for people facing barriers and additional materials to increase awareness of our programs and online services among specific groups.
We encourage you to keep informed by visiting our Communications Corner, Advocates page and Update newsletter, and following us on social media.
During National Homelessness Awareness Month, please tell others about our commitment to people experiencing homelessness and our many useful resources.
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Tags: Disability, People Facing Barriers, SSI
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Meredith H.
This has to be a joke, right? Stop acting like you’re doing SO much for us, when all you did was set up a web page with links to the same programs our states already send us to. Programs that either have NO FUNDING, or that are restrictive to only SSI people while excluding SSDI people. A majority of the homeless population NATION WIDE aren’t on SSI. They’re on SSDI. So not only are you giving away free money to people that never paid into the system… while penalizing those of us that did pay into it… you’re going to boast like you’re helping us while bolstering the housing support for SSI recipients but not do anything for SSDI people?! What is wrong with you?!
And while I’m at it… explain to ALL of us how you can ‘urge the disabled homeless to apply for benefits’ when the pot you’re pulling from is going to be dry by 2035?? Are you trying to collapse the system faster? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the upside down approach to be upside down. Make it make sense!
And lastly… let’s talk about your claims specialist’s operations manual on claim determination. Tell us why it instructs the workers to… regardless of an ALJ ruling in the claimants favor… to continue to deny claims or refuse payments. I repeat… even if an administrative law judge rules in favor of the claimant, you have in WRITING in the workers manuals to continue to deny the claims. Where I come from? That’s called contempt of court, failure to comply with a court order, and abuse. Abuse of disabled people is a crime in these 50 United States. So why is the SSA allowed to do that to people, but if we were to do it… we’d all go to jail. Idk who is in charge at the SSA but clearly the entire program needs to be completely overhauled with ALL new staff with all new executives and all new training, rules, and concepts. Anything less is just a waste of time and a disparity to those of us homeless SSDI recipients literally left out in the cold. And let me tell you something… I may be homeless and disabled? But I’d run circles around whoever is in charge, with my eyes closed. The incompetency, lack of logical math application, and lack of lived experience… shows. And it’s not a good look. Do better.
quacy m.
allow homeless citizen americans and elderly from the nursing home,disable americans to also sign up for casino hotel using social security as the housing authority. same rules apply no immigrants. it will be to many people for the budget . so only americans can go and only good americans
Marcus A.
Social security funds are cool 😎😎 they help…
Marcus B.
Supplemental funds…
Patricia N.
I also have had issues with SS.I am on SSDI for over 2 years now and have been able to obtain snap.I am on Medicare and have been approved for 2022-2023 and new approval done for 2023-2024 for my Medicare part B to be paid by state.I have been trying for a year and half calling every couple months talking to SS,and keep getting told they will look into it.Well it’s been over a year and half and still nothing happening.Everytime I call To question why.I get cut short,put off,they understand etc.Well do they understand I am living in poverty with them still taking over 200 and some odd dollars out of my SSDI,between part B and taxes.I will be homeless soon myself,because i have a roomate who is moving out soon and I have no extra money.I have a car for over a year that needs work,I have a dog who needed vet care couple months ago,gmhad to borrow the 200 dollars for her care.And can’t afford her grooming anymore .Can’t afford to move out of this mold ridden,unhealthy place I live in,cause Landlord gets away with everything. I was put in this position because of SSDI,taking forever to approve me,but in meantime they stopped my SS and I had no money coming in for almost 8 months .Fell behind on everything. Roomate threatened to walk then because I couldn’t pay my part if rent and buy food ir anything. SO nit trying to be disrespectful or anything.But I get all these texts and emails from SS about how there making all these different topics better,faster,respectful.I am sorry to say,I have yet to see this,or feel like I matter.This is just very unfair.I never asked to be in this situation.And I fear I will be out on street too.
Thank you for reading
Diane M.
I hear you. How is a person supposed to live with no income while waiting to get approved SSDI.
That is the biggest problem. That’s when homeless starts.
Mario S.
Soy una persona de 75 años y vivo en un Shelter por más de 10 años y vivir en estos lugares donde hay tantos problemas de drogas compra ventas y uso de drogas y no veo seguras para mí en estos lugares ya he Sido robado en dos ocasiones mi correo electrónico es solanomario1949@gmail.com solo pido una ayuda para salirme de aquí
T.Y.
For information in Spanish, visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov. On social media visit us at http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial, or http://www.twitter/segurosocial. Thanks!
Ihab A.
I suffer from epilepsy in Germany and was imprisoned in NaI prisons there are many cases of epilepsy here have been sick for five years have a social security number in Jordan
Melissa
Please help me find housing I am disabled special needs and medically needed an at home community based services and need help with housing assistance please and thank you and affected by hurricane Milton
Dana W.
If only our government agencies did help, it’s the government employees who supposed to be helping the people that are not helping the people!
They’re rude, disrespectful and don’t help and are very discouraging to the people in need. They caused me and many others who qualified to become homeless, so how can you sit here and preach about helping the people in need and are homeless!?