Homelessness and Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 18, 2021
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are lifelines for people experiencing homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2020 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report notes roughly 580,000 people are currently without a home and the National Alliance to End Homelessness found about 25-30 percent have severe physical and mental disabilities.
People who experience homelessness tend to age faster than people who have access to housing because of the stress of living on the street, poor nutrition, social isolation, and the effects of extreme weather and unsanitary conditions. They also often deal with substance use disorders along with severe health issues—including diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
The mental health disorders often also include cognitive problems that make understanding SSA’s terminology and process difficult to navigate. The standard process for applying for SSI and SSDI doesn’t work well for this population. Internet access proves virtually impossible. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made the struggle to apply for benefits worse.
Homelessness places limitations on a person’s communication with Social Security. Phone communication (including texts) presents difficulties—as does traditional mail. The limited options for contact and communication often lead to benefit application denial for technical reasons—such as not responding to mail and not keeping appointments. When this happens, individuals continue to re-apply as their health deteriorates and anxiety increases.
Third-party providers and organizations can help people experiencing homelessness navigate the SSI/SSDI process for faster benefit payment decisions. They can assist with taking their benefits applications and provide knowledgeable information and support to this underserved community. Third-party groups include:
- Legal Services providers.
- SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) trained staff.
- Health Care for the Homeless programs.
- Community trained case managers and social workers.
- Protection and Advocacy organizations in each state.
People experiencing homelessness can often start with contacting the Department of Social Services in their state to learn about other service providers who can help. Community behavioral health program providers may also assist homeless individuals to apply for benefits and submit medical information needed for decision-making.
Homelessness doesn’t have to be an ongoing condition for so many of our neighbors. Let’s work together to help those in need and ensure that those who are eligible are approved as early as possible in the process.
SSA’s posting of this blog does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any non-SSA organization or author.
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Tags: People Facing Barriers, SSI, supplemental security income
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Charlie M.
I draw $714 and I was in jail for a couple of years and I got my disability back but they said that they overpaid me I have been trying to find out who they have paid but I’m living homeless in a tent and no one can help me they tried to tell me that I was overpaid $29,000 and I have been paying on this since 2000
Vonda
For your security, Charlie, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
john S.
Yes But what will happen to the Inflation Rate of the country
Beverly L.
I understand all the cry outs but these people are not going to help us I’m on disability and I get widow’s income and it’s still not enough I only make 803 a month by the time I pay 595 in rent there’s not enough for me to live monthly I only get $16 in food stamps how am I supposed to survive with that kind of money please help us
Vonda
Hi *Beverly, thanks for using our blog. Please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for the many programs and services available in your state. For information on public housing assistance visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website. We hope this helps!
Donald R.
I’m on ssi disability supplemental income I’m only getting 600.00 a month I was told I’m supposed to get 780.00 but social security said it’s based on your rent don’t understand this because everyone I talked to is getting 780.00 a month and I’ve been trying to get ahold of social security but because of covid-19 it impossible same with mdhs and I got evicted from a home I was sharing but I got lucky and found a room or small apartment for 425.00 but that doesn’t leave very much I want to work I’m supposed to be able to up to 20 hrs a week but because I owe back child support they garnish my check and that puts me even further behind I don’t understand how people on welfare and illegals are getting more help than us and not to mention I didn’t get my first stimulus because of back child support and because I’ve gotten into trouble a low felony I can not get into low income housing I’m okay for now but for how much longer I don’t know but yeah people on social security and like me that has worked for years I have over twenty years in labor it’s not like we’re asking for a free life but we need more to live on than what they are giving us and to make things even worse people that have been only working for a that got laid off they was getting unemployment plus extra money and they said they were having a hard time what the hell do you think we were having on 600.00 a month
Donald R.
I’m on ssi disability supplemental income I’m only getting 600.00 a month I was told I’m supposed to get 780.00 but social security said it’s based on your rent don’t understand this because everyone I talked to is getting 780.00 a month and I’ve been trying to get ahold of social security but because of covid-19 it impossible same with mdhs and I got evicted from a home I was sharing but I got lucky and found a room or small apartment for 425.00 but that doesn’t leave very much I want to work I’m supposed to be able to up to 20 hrs a week but because I owe back child support they garnish my check and that puts me even further behind I don’t understand how people on welfare and illegals are getting more help than us and not to mention I didn’t get my first stimulus because of back child support and because I’ve gotten into trouble a low felony I can not get into low income housing I’m okay for now but for how much longer I don’t know but yeah people on social security and like me that has worked for years I have over twenty years in labor it’s not like we’re asking for a free life but we need more to live on than what they are giving us
Vonda
Hi Donald, thanks for using our blog. You can call your local Social Security office to inquire about your SSI benefit amount. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps!
Merilin
My husband is ptsd and bipolar and other mental health issues diagnosed and can’t work and mental health knows and they don’t help him apply for ssi and my benefits is not enough for 2 people we need help
Danyell
Go Apply You can get Free Legal Help,and Also their are Volunteers that help with the Application Process. The Help is there of you Look and spend a lil time Researching What Resources that can be very beneficial..
Vonda
Merilin, we are sorry to hear about your husband’s disability. If he was recently denied, he may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision and provide additional evidence. If past the 60 days, he can reapply.
If he needs help, he can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or contact his local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal.
Some individuals may be eligible to receive additional assistance from the state where they live; while they wait for a final determination on their disability claim. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for more information. We hope this information is helpful!
Kathleen W.
I’m a 66 year old woman that received SSDI for 11 years then this year I became full retirement age and now I am not eligible for disability so instead I will only receive social security which will be 573$ a month, was getting 241$ more but not anymore. How can I live on 573$ pay rent????????
Danyell
There’s no way you can survive comfortably on that… You need someone helping you that knows what their doing.
Denise J.
Yes what happened to our increase. Food and other cost is steady going up. Everyone is getting help but social security
José O.
President Joe Biden Promised in the campaign to increase Social Security SS, SSDI, SSI About $ 200.00 dollars while the covid 19 pandemic will last Nothing to see He forgot that Promise Apparently😳😬😲
Danyell
HE never promised no such thing.
In Fact I didn’t vote for him. If he had of promised do you think he wld actually do it?? No!!! All of you Hidin Bidens out there pat yourselves on the Back. This country is Basically a Third World Country now. Thank you AMERICANS.
Becca A.
Don’t blame Biden, ya nitwit. Blame the Republicans trying to block every stimulus and infrastructure bill Democrats are trying to pass. Republicans only care about the rich. If you’re not a millionaire or billionaire and you support the gop, you’ve got no one to blame but yourself for voting against your own self interests. Good grief.
Lori V.
Wow..Thought I was reading a thread on disability not being enough money to live on and of course politics come into the picture. I find it hard to understand that you just slam the president in a pandemic situation with a comment that was only partially true (he was discussing a few extra dollars for disability)he never promised anything and if he did it wouldn’t be that easy..but instead of complaining you didn’t receive the 200 with a answer..he just forgot about it ..you really should understand where the 200 is coming from and why we will receive 200.and for how long and will it bring some people just over a dollar amount that instead of helping them they will lose possibly low cost insurance or even free or mabey a 100 dollars taken in food assistance or even rent assistance ect..I’m all for extra money anytime but I even understand there is no free money anywhere ..it comes from somewhere and I don’t think even the president knows where that supposedly money tree that we all here about…grows!We all should think of other ways to help ourselves a little..mabey we need to cut coupons and save a penny or two that way. Mabey give a free lawn cut to someone who is struggling on disability with not only the money to pay there bills but also a disability that prevents them from being able to maintain a simple yard..so go wake up them teenagers and help out someone who truly needs it 😏
José O.
President Joe Well Promised in the campaign to increase Social Security SS, SSDI, SSI About $ 200.00 dollars while the covid 19 pandemic will last Nothing to see He forgot that Promise Apparently😳😬😲
Becca A.
No, he hasn’t forgotten. Still in his early first term. He’s gotten out the stimulus checks, getting every American a chance to get vaccinated, trying to open schools and is also trying to get the new infrastructure passed. Let’s ask ourselves what trump would be doing if he had won. He’d be twittering, golfing and whining while Americans died and our nation burned to the ground.
Lori V.
This is the sad reality so many of us on disability has and is struggling with. I agree with the small dollar amount that some of us receive is impossible to pay rent,mortgage, utilities, car insurance, health insurance, especially dental..in fact dental insurance is a joke when a simple cleaning and x-rays and one tooth pulled is what you receive for a year. So we’re left with teeth that get ignored and that causes us to be imbarrased and depressed and then things go downhill from there 🤐I’m sure noone thought when they were young and thought that getting older (or becoming disabled)that this was a possibility. I’m thinking of bingo and a front porch with a swing that I would sit in and rock sipping lemonade waving at the kids riding by on there bike not planing on what bill I’m not going to cover or the health I ignored causes I can’t afford the medication and dreading birthdays and Christmas and Easter because I will have no gifts for the kid’s to open (yes I understand family is what is important)but it’s also important to experience the joy of giving gifts and planning a meal for the family. But that young person thinking life was going to be humming in the kitchen and swinging on that swing on the porch when I’m older didn’t realize stuff happens and you find out getting older means illnesses and injuries can happen and now you have 600 dollars to live .Worry, stress, depression, anxiety, dependant on medication that will be taken from you if you couldn’t pay for it cause possibly your heater broke and it’s heat or health. Disability is hard to deal with even with piles of cash but most sadly only has piles of bills. Sometimes I think about the last time I truly was…Happy 😕