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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Jane
Social services dont help. Contacting them is useless. You either have to be in a shelter and all are full anyway and you have to be almost dead if they decide to help, by then it’s useless.
Felicia l.
I am homeless. I am very very tired. Please help me get out of this situation please.
Felicia l.
How do I apply for the SOAR program. Please contact me asap please
Vonda
Felicia, we pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security (usually within the last 10 years). The (SSI) program is a needs based program that gives cash assistance to disabled individuals with limited income and resources. We pay disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or to end in death. If you think you may be eligible to receive disability benefits and would like to apply, you can use our online application.
If you are unable or would rather not apply online, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or contact 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.
Ed F.
This is what happens when we keep voting for the same assholes in both parties. Time to get rid of the Democratic and Republican parties. If we can’t fix our problems here at home how can we expect to fix the world. We send billions upon billions of dollars each year to other countries and taxes keep growing. Some of these countries hate us… Folks wake up, please. It’s hard to get SS when our own government is robbing us…
Vonda
Hi Felicia. 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!
Luis J.
Ive applied several times this time with a lawyer, each year gets worse ive lost a toe my home my car insurance. Cant get insulin or blood thinners for my blood clot Im honestly waiting to die this is terrifying Im only 41 and I’ve worked all my life and paid into this system.
Ray C.
I am in need of help with my rent and my bills
Bobby R.
I need a little help to with my rent
Christine
Same here
Carlos D.
I have been trying for a couple years now and been turned down several times ,even though the person who decides if there is any job you can work has said because of my severe mental illness and my medications, there is nowhere in the US that I can work the judge still denied me I think it was August of 2020! My wife has been on SSI since 2005, and has taken financial care of 4 of us since then, and on $794.00 a month it isnt easy , I’m trying to help but getting nowhere fast , what can i do, but were not homeless.
J C.
WoW that’s so sad we need more money that’s not enough to live on but they don’t care cause they living good with excellent health food you name it they got it I’m sick of how we are treated…..
Nancy.c
HANG IN THERE IT TOOK ME 4 YRS,BUT THEY PAID ME FOR THE 4 YRS BACKPAY,MY HUSBAND DIED 2 MONTHS BEFORE I GOT MINE,I HAD ALOT OF BILLS DUE.
Vonda
Carlos, we are sorry to hear about your disability. If you were recently denied, you may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision and provide additional evidence.
If you need help requesting an appeal, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or contact your 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!
Anthony G.
Well folks
I,ve read the articles within
And i can truly understand what’s GOING ON here.
And yes i put the blame where
It belongs on yes
I,am speaking the fedral goverment we’ve got!
And as far as i see none OF THEM GIVE A DAM WHAT’S GOING ON HERE.
I MYSELF BEARLY GOT INTO
A SHELTER WORKSHOP!!
AND THANK GOD I GOT HELP
I GOT SSI BENIFITS PLUS SOME
TYPE OF DISABILITY BENIFITS
THANKS TO A FEW FRIENDS
THEIR THE DISABILITY WAS A
ROYAL JOKE TO GET
I HEAD TO SEE AN EYE DOCOTOR PLUS A NUT DOCTOR WHO TESTED ME AN FOUND OUT I,AM A SLOW LEARNER,
WITH MILD ADULT MENTAL
RETARDATION..
THE EYE DOCTOR TOLD ME
MY FIELDVISION IS GONE
AN CAN’T DRIVE A VEHICLE AT
ALL BETWEEN THOSE SUBJECTS THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION SAID I,AM NOT DISABLED WHAT
DO YEA HAVE TO BE DEAD TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON HERE
I WORK AT A SHELTERWORK SHOP AN DON’T EARN MINIMUM WAGES AT ALL
IT’S PIECE RATED PAY PERIOD
SO IF SOCIAL SECURITY THINKS
WE THAT ARE DISABLED CAN
PAY RENT AT 500.00 ONUP A
MONTH PLUS UTILITIES AND
EXPECT TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL SECURITY DEPOSIT ON MONTHLY INCOME $750 FROM
THE ONLY INCOME FROM SSI OR
SSDI THEY THEMSELF SHOULD
TRY IT YOU’LL FIND OUT FAST
A?NUMBER OF FACTORS
(1). YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO
AFFORD ANY APT UNITS
100% OF THOSE REQUIRE
ONE MONTH’S RENT PLUS
ONE MONTH’S DEPOSIT EQUAL
TO ONE MONTHS RENT
SO IF THE RENT LETS SAY IT’S
$600.00 (YOU’LL NEED $1200.00) AND A DEPOSIT FOR
ELECTRIC TO BE TURNED ON
THAT’LL COST AN EXTRA
$150 TOO $300 SO NO WONDER
PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS
I,D BE HOMELESS IF I DIDN’T HAVE A BROTHER AN A FEW
FRIENDS TO HELP ME
SSI SHOULD BE ASHAMED ON
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING AN DOING TO PEOPLE
Give a Dam WHAT HAPPENS
Orlando
I AGREE 💯 YES AND AMEN TO THAT!!!!.
VERY WELL SAID ..!
I TOO AM HOMELESS FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS IVE WORKED MY ENTIRE LIFE OVER 30 YEARS I AM SICK ALSO DIABETIC LONG SO MANY OTHER ISSUES AND I AM FIGHTING TO SURVIVE..
AND I CAN NOT GET A DIME FROM SSI.. THANK YOU FIR THIS HAS INSPIRED ME TO MAKE THIS KNOWN AND EXPOSE SSI FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
I AGREE THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELFS!!
Sashs
I have been on the street for 3 years to.And i.have been sexual assaulted my whole life has been changed
Marsha
I’ve gotta agree with u, I’ve been living off 776 since Jan this year, last year, it was 766. And now I’m stuck in a rental that 2 people signed the lease for but one was removed, and rents 600 plus utilities of 2 to 300 and car insurance, cell phone and about to get evicted and who wouldn’t evict me on that low of income along with that high of bills? So I’m about to b homeless again here in Al cause no one gives a damn whether I make enough money to live, if u could find an apartment for 400 plus utilities, u can’t get into it unless u make at least double that rent and utilities? Then add into the mix that I’ve got 2 dogs I love very much but they don’t allow pets and no one cares, ur so right
Ray c.
I need help with my rent and bills
Vonda
Hi Ray, thanks for using our blog. Please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for the many programs and services in your state. For information on public housing assistance visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website. We hope this helps!
Dawn M.
You got that right…but it is probably preaching to the Choir…cuz I was in my car until 2months ago and now I rent 1 room with shared bathroom and kitchen for 500$ a month and @230$ left to live on for a month and they say no extra earned money and if you do to much of strenuous work they take the little bit of money I do get and most of all I can’t sell anything illegal to get by cuz then I would go to prison which it is 3 hots and a kot but i dont want that if I got to be in prison I would rather not have anything and be free…so is our freedom free? Is our government help for poverty? What is really going on?
Christopher C.
WITH.SOCIAL SECURITY IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT DOCUMENTATION AND NO MATTER WHAT YOUR DOCTOR SAYS THEY WILL SEND U TO SEE ONE THEIR QUACKS WHICH IS WHAT THEY BASE THEIR DECISION ON IT TOOK ME FIVE YRS TO GET SSDI I HAD A REALLY GOOD PSYCH DOC AND A VERY GOOD ADVOCATE FROM A LEGAL CENTER THAT DEALS ESPECIALLY WITH THESE TYPES OF ISSUES SINCE IT WAS A MENTAL THING WITH ME I KNEW WHAT THIER DOC WAS LOOKING SO I WHEN HE ASK ME ONE OR TWO QUESTIONS I GOT REALLY REALLY ANGRY AND I SCARED THE HELL OUT OF HIM I GOT APPROVED HANG IN THERE IN
Steve
If you’re on supplemental then you can’t have any assets and you have to live like you’re in poverty worthless program
Brenda b.
I am 65 single female on total disability I have been staying where ever I can because there is no help it seems I called and everyone just passing the same info .there is no such thing as affordable housing places I get $800.00 a month to live on that’s not even enough to do anything .I have worked all my life and my physical ability is limited and with all this stress I am loosing my self asteam .if it wasn’t for my service dog for 12 yrs I would have gave up a long time ago .
Eric
I’m in the middle of a appeal for childhood adult benefits that I got denied for do to SGA but the argument I have is regarding SGA which claims to not count work done under special conditions/subsidies then it goes on to say any work 6 months or longer is considered SGA this policy is saying two completely different things without special conditions/subsidies it would enable me the special conditions/subsidies don’t stop and my disabilities didn’t stop so there shouldn’t be a 6 month SGA limit this denies disabled people EEO in more ways than one this is a violation of the U.S. Department of Labor and the ADA the ways and means Committee needs to investigate this all disabled people need to file a complaint the Social security OIG needs to investigate this if I’m disabled and my parents are deceased and I relied on my parents at the time of their death no income or past job should prevent me from receiving ssdi on my parents behalf. SSA is designed to help disabled people this policy only hurts disabled people.
Emma
I can’t even get disability. I have several physical disability. I’ve been denied since the 1990s. I just given up on it. Since Social security tells me that I’m lying on my medical issues and even with doctors notes which was not even good enough for social security. Social security is a freakin joke. A person can’t even survive living off of it. You make more more than just getting a disability check once a month check.