Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

CT SOAR: SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery

Connecticut’s SOAR Initiative is led by the State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). It aims to increase access to the disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for eligible adults who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of experiencing homelessness and have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder.

Watch this video for an overview of the Connecticut SOAR process.

 Strong partnerships are a crucial aspect of the SOAR process and Connecticut is fortunate to have committed and well-established partnerships with SSA and Disability Determination Services (DDS), many community and healthcare providers and other state agencies. SOAR is thriving because there is a network of individuals and entities working toward the same goal, based on a foundation of cross-system trust and communication. 

Currently, eight local community agencies have full-time, dedicated staff trained to provide SOAR services for eligible populations.  These agencies work within all DMHAS regions and corresponding local coordinated access network (CAN).

These agencies are:

Fairfield County Coordinated Access Network (Region 1)

 

Catholic Charities of Fairfield County
203-743-4412

New Reach
203-492-4866

 

Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network (Region 2)

 

Columbus House
203-401-4400

Liberty Community Services
203-495-7600

 

Middletown/Meriden/Wallingford Coordinated Access Network (Region 2)

 

Columbus House
860-343-3145

 

Eastern Coordinated Access Network (Region 3)

 

Reliance Health
860-887-6536

 

Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network (Region 4)

 

Community Health Resources
860-646-3888

 

Central CT Coordinated Access Network (Region 4)

 

Friendship Service Center
860-225-0211  

 

Northwest Coordinated Access Network (Region 5)

 

Center for Human Development
203-596-9323

 

Expectations of Participation in SOAR

In order to be eligible to submit SOAR applications in Connecticut, all providers must complete SOAR Training.  

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 SSA and DDS.
  • 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.
  • 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 State Team Lead for quality review before submission to DDS.

SOAR-trained staff, if you are looking for additional information please contact Mollie.Machado@ct.gov

Connecticut SOAR State Team

State Team Lead(s):

  • Mollie Machado
    Email: mollie.machado@ct.gov
    Phone: 860-941-9451