Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania SOAR State Team

State Team Lead(s):

• Kayla Sheffer
  Email: kasheffer@pa.gov
  Phone: 717-705-8167

• Lauren MacWithey
  Email: lmacwithey@pa.gov
  Phone: 717-772-6265

TA Center Liaison:

• Abigail Kirkman
  Email: akirkman@prainc.com
  Phone: (518) 439-7415 x5226

SOARing in Pennsylvania

The SOAR effort in Pennsylvania is an initiative designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder.

Expectations of Participation in SOAR

Individuals may become eligible to utilize the SOAR model by completing the SOAR Online Course. Prior to beginning the online curriculum, individuals are encouraged to contact the State Team Lead or SOAR TA Center to discuss their training needs and expectations.

Expectations of SOAR-trained Caseworkers

• Serve as appointed representative for the purpose of applying for SSI/SSDI. Representation includes “standing in” for the applicant, responding to questions, receiving copies of all mail sent to the applicant, and communicating back and forth with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD).
• Complete the applications for both SSI and SSDI.
• Collect medical records from providers who have treated the applicant over the last two years.
• Write a comprehensive SOAR Medical Summary Report that includes psychosocial, treatment, and functional information that is co-signed, if at all possible, by a physician or psychologist who has seen the individual.
• Conduct ongoing outreach and engagement with the individual to stay connected throughout the process and to work with the individual to obtain other needed services and treatment such as housing, physical and mental health care, other support services, food, and clothing.
• Track applications and outcomes, including number of applications completed, approvals/denials, and time to decision from application submission to receipt of SSA’s decision.
• Report outcomes on at least an annual basis within the stated timeframes as requested.
• No fees will be collected for completion of the application.
• Actively collaborate with local SOAR Leads.
• Participate in refresher courses and quality reviews of applications. SOAR caseworkers are encouraged to send redacted versions of their first few Medical Summary Reports to the SOAR TA Center for quality review before submission to BDD.

Outcomes Tracking