County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSAGeneral Relief Program Guide GRPG Supplemental Security Income SSI Advocacy Services Number Page 908003 1 of 3 Revision Date December 1 2021 A Background The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency HHSA contracts for Supplemental Security Income SSI Advocacy Services Legal Aid Society of San Diego Inc is the contracted provider of these services As part of the contract Legal Aid will provide SSI Advocacy Services to all General Relief GR Family Resource Centers FRCs in the County and will schedule time in the FRCs as appropriate to the number of referrals received The SSI advocates job is to assist GR customers in the SSIState Supplementary Payment SSP application and appeal process Most customers under the Interim Assistance Program IAP are mandatory referrals The Human Services Specialist HSS and supervisor will have discretion in referring nonmandatory customers when it appears the situation or circumstances demonstrate a potential need for SSI Advocacy Services or an evaluation of potential SSI eligibility based on disability or blindness is needed This section is updated due to changes to the regional transportation pass for GR recipients Offer a transportation payment for a regional transportation pass to individuals referred to the SSI Advocate who do not have access to a working vehicle Purpose To provide the policies for SSI Advocacy Services Policy B Form 131 HHSA The major communication document between the HSS and the SSI Advocate is the 131 HHSA GR and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants CAPI Communication with the SSI Advocate Form It may be used by either party and is considered a twoway communication document Ensure that the customer signs the form as required in the middle of the page and image it in the case file to document SSI Advocacy Services referral and activities C Mandatory Referrals to SSI Advocacy Services There is an emphasis on assisting those with psychiatric disabilities but referrals are not limited to this group Explain to customers that the County contracted services are provided free of charge Individuals meeting the following criteria are mandatory referrals to SSI Advocacy Services All customers who have filed for SSI but have not been approved or denied at the point of referral which can be anytime the HSS has contact with the customer or the case for example redetermination change report or phone contact All customers who are potentially eligible to SSI based on GR Program Guide GRPG 908001G criteria All customers receiving SSI prior to incarceration and whose SSI was terminated while incarcerated All customers with a prior medical evaluation indicating inability to work for six months or longer and a new medical evaluation extending the period of inability to work due to same medical condition County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSAGeneral Relief Program Guide GRPG Supplemental Security Income SSI Advocacy Services Number Page 908003 2 of 3 o Note For purposes of determining the period of six months or longer multiple medical evaluations for the same medical condition will be considered If an individual has a preexisting contract with a private attorney for SSI Advocacy Services does not wish to change to the County contracted services and provides verification of that contract or authorization the individual may be exempted from a mandatory referral D Voluntary Referral to Advocate The HSS or supervisor may do a voluntary referral to SSI Advocacy Services when The customer appears to have a psychiatric or physical disability for which the medical information to indicate potential SSI eligibility is inconclusive or missing and an evaluation for potential SSI is needed The customer has a documented psychiatric or physical disability but it is unclear if the criteria in GRPG 908001G are met and the criteria in GRPG 908001L are not met E PreApplication There are no major differences in the preapplication process Form 1165 HHSA Applicants Statement of Employability can be used by the preapplication HSS to identify disabilities for an aged individual being referred to CAPI to assist in determining potential SSI eligibility F Applicant Meets Referral Criteria If the customer is otherwise GR eligible take the actions in Processing Guide 908003A G IAP StatusAction Take the actions in Processing Guide 908003A for SSI Advocacy Services in relation to IAP H Confirmation of Program Eligibility to SSI Advocate The SSI Advocate may receive referrals for SSI Advocacy Services from other agencies for example St Vincent de Paul or Neil Good Day Center When this outside referral occurs the SSI Advocate must document linkage to GR or CAPI to serve the customer under the County contract A Notice of Action NOA or other correspondence from the County may be available to confirm linkage If these forms are not available it has been agreed that the SSI Advocate can obtain a clearance through the FRC to confirm program linkage FRC Managers can decide where to have the clearance completed Names of the SSI Advocates will be provided to each FRC If the Then individual is not known is that is the extent of information provided to the SSI Advocate not active or pending to unless a release has been received GR or CAPI individual is active to or this can be confirmed for the SSI Advocate and the HSSs number pending to GR or CAPI name and the case number can be released to the SSI Advocate for documenting linkage in their case record HSS did not initiate the the SSI Advocate will send a 131 HHSA form to the HSS referral for SSI Advocacy Services County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSAGeneral Relief Program Guide GRPG Supplemental Security Income SSI Advocacy Services Number Page 908003 3 of 3 I Customer Not Assisted by SSI AdvocateMonitor the SSI application process of applicantsrecipients not assisted by the SSI Advocate due to the exemption in C above as shown in Processing Guide 908003A Procedures Follow the policies above and Processing Guide 908003A for the SSI Advocacy requirements for IAP Program ImpactsNone References County Policy Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance by November 30 2024 Approval for Release Rick Wanne Director SelfSufficiency Services