WAYNE COUNTY, PA — The Wayne County Area Agency on Aging has launched a new program that will assist individuals with disabilities who do not receive Social Security benefits and are homeless or at risk for becoming homeless. The program is called Social Security Disability Insurance/Supplemental Security Income Outreach, Access & Recovery (SOAR).

A press release summarized the issues that SOAR aims to address, “Often times, people are homeless due to mental or physical illnesses, making it difficult to get or keep a job, or in the case of minors, to attend school. Social Security Disability/Supplemental Security Income is designed to give a steady source of income for those who are unable to work. For people who may not have access to a (reliable) telephone and/or do not have a place to receive mail, it is nearly impossible to successfully complete the forms and provide necessary documentation of their disability to Social Security.”

SOAR counselors are able to help residents complete the application process, and help them with the documentation necessary to prove their disability. Counselors can also write a Medical Summary Report, which explains to the Social Security Review Team what the effect of an applicant’s disability on their daily life has been.
Applicants who do not have a permanent address or phone number can rely on their SOAR counselors to act as a point of contact with the Social Security Administration.

The press release also said that SOAR counselors do not charge a fee, and that applications earmarked as “SOAR” are given a higher priority and approved faster with a greater success rate.
Vicki Wargo at the Honesdale Senior Center is available to assist individuals who are disabled and at risk of homelessness work through the application process. For more information, call Vicki at 570/253-4262 during regular business hours.