TANF/SSI Connection – Building Better Programs

Project SOAR

Ife Floyd — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:56:34 +0000

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs provide cash assistance to individuals who have disabilities that limit work. Although people who are homeless have a particularly urgent need for this kind of assistance, they are much less likely to be approved for benefits compared to other applicants. The SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) initiative aims to improve access to these critical benefits for people who are homeless, using a multi-pronged strategy to mitigate the most common challenges they face when applying for SSI/SSDI. While this project was focused on helping homeless individuals to navigate the SSI application process, the information provided here is relevant for other individuals living with a disability, including TANF recipients.

ASPE – Successfully Implementing Soar: Lessons Learned From Six States

Mathematica Policy Research – Findings from a Study of the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) Initiative

TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project (TSDTP)

Ife Floyd — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 16:52:34 +0000

Differing missions, programmatic and financial challenges, definitions of disability, and rules and incentives related to work make it challenging for the TANF and SSI programs to work together. The TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project (TSDTP) sought to better understand the relationship between the TANF and SSI systems with regard to TANF applicants and recipients who might have a disability. The project analyzed program data and developed and implemented pilot tests of program interventions targeted to this population. The first link below will take you to the project description on MDRC’s website where you will also find links to all the final reports for the project. Descriptions and links to the individual reports are also included below.

TSDTP Overview website

This report describes three pilot projects designed to improve some aspect of TANF services for clients with disabilities, including those who may apply for SSI. Pilots took place in Ramsey County, MN, Los Angeles County, CA, and Muskegon County, MI.
The TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project: Innovative Strategies for Serving TANF Recipients with Disabilities

This brief provides an overall summary of the lessons learned from the TANF-SSI Disability Transition Project. It brings together material spread across other documents in a concise format, and it also offers new insights from state-level data analyses that largely back up the conclusions drawn from federal data.
Connections Between TANF and SSI: Lessons from the TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project

Many TANF staff are unfamiliar with the SSI Program but want to learn more. This brief describes the basic SSI disability determination process and compares and contrasts it with several procedures different TANF agencies use to identify recipients who meet TANF work-limitation criteria in states or localities. It goes on to discuss topics including different strategies TANF agencies use to assess which individuals are most likely to qualify for SSI.
Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A Guide for TANF Staff Members

Assessing and Serving TANF Recipients with Disabilities

Ife Floyd — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:35:11 +0000

A significant number of TANF clients have a disability of some type that may impact their service needs. But assessing clients’ needs can prove difficult for TANF programs and staff. This practice brief describes different assessment strategies used by local agencies and organizations participating in the TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project, discusses strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to assessment, and offers some points for program administrators and practitioners to consider in choosing methods of assessment.

OPRE brief – Assessing and Serving TANF Recipients with Disabilities