Social Security Advocacy
Social Security Advocacy services help individuals (both children and adults) who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk for homelessness and are unable to do any substantial gainful activity (work) due to a medical, physical or mental impairment that is expected to last more than a year or result in death, apply for Social Security Administration disability programs: Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.
Social Security Advocacy Services may help individuals with their Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance claim or continuing disability review at the following levels:
- Initial application/claim.
- Reconsideration on an initial claim.
- Hearing before an administrative law judge on an initial claim.
- Appeals Council review on an initial claim.
- Continuing Disability Review.
- Reconsideration on a Continuing Disability Review.
- Hearing by an administrative law judge on a Continuing Disability Review.
Note: The services listed above are for disability claims administered by the Social Security Administration. This service does not include helping individuals apply for retirement benefits administered through the Social Security Administration.
If you are interested in advocacy services, please fill out the forms below. We currently have a waitlist and will be taking new clients in the order they are received. For more immediate assistance, please contact your local Social Services office.
Frequently Asked Questions
SSDI provides benefits to people who have developed a disability or who are blind and who are “insured” by workers’ contributions to the Social Security trust fund. These contributions are based on your earnings (or those of your spouse or parents) as required by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Title II of the Social Security Act authorizes SSDI benefits. Your dependents may also be eligible for benefits from your earnings record.
The SSI program makes cash payments to people who are aged, blind, or have developed a disability (including children) and who have limited income and resources. The federal government funds SSI from general tax revenues. Many states pay a supplemental benefit to people in addition to the federal payments. Some of these states have arrangements with us to combine their supplemental payment with the federal SSI payment into 1 monthly check. Other states manage their own programs and make their payments separately. Title XVI of the Social Security Act authorizes SSI benefits.
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Yes. The Social Security Administration has special rules that make it possible for people to received SSDI or SSI and still work.
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This vaires from case to case: On average, an initial decision, can take 6-8 months. There are special situations when payments can be expedited.
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No. While the process to determine if somone is disabled is similar, they are two separate programs. Being certified disabled by SMRT does NOT guarantee the Social Security Administration will find you disabled too. You will need to apply for benefits with The Social Security Administration and receive a determination from them as well.