How SOAR Disability Benefits Transform Lives and Support Recovery

Accessing disability benefits can be daunting. One way we support those we serve is by helping them navigate disability benefits. A program known as SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery) serves as a lifeline for individuals facing the dual challenges of severe mental illness, substance use disorders, and financial instability.  

Through SOAR, people can secure the disability benefits they need to stabilize their lives, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: recovery, rebuilding, and reconnecting with their communities. 

Understanding SOAR Disability Benefits 

The SOAR program is a national initiative funded by SAMSHA, and SouthLight provides it as a free service to Wake County residents. The program is designed to help eligible adults and children access disability income benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

SOAR mainly supports those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and are living with severe mental illness, medical impairments, and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.  

This program plays a vital role in assisting individuals in need to secure the financial support they deserve, allowing them to stabilize their lives and focus on recovery. 

A SOAR Success Story: From Addiction to Achievement 

Our SOAR specialist, Natasha Posey, explains how this program works. Natasha shares the story of a client who was referred to us by a community partner, Healing Transitions.    

“Our client had once owned a successful small business, but tragically lost her spouse, and in her grief, became dependent on opioids. Her family and friends intervened, and she entered rehab with a strong desire to turn her life around. Motivated by the love for her grandchildren, she set a goal to achieve sobriety and reopen her business. 

Our client sought out SOAR for disability advocacy, and together we began the process. I met with her every two weeks, working on her Social Security documentation and getting to know her story. Within about a month, she was approved for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). This approval provided her with thousands of dollars in back pay and a monthly SSDI benefit. 

With this financial support, she was able to save her home from foreclosure and, more importantly, re-open her business.

Today, she maintains her sobriety, cherishing her role as a grandmother who can now spoil her grandchildren and contribute to her community.

The Impact of SOAR in Our Community 

This success story is just one example of how SOAR positively impacts lives. By providing access to disability benefits, SOAR empowers individuals to improve the quality of their lives and regain their independence. These benefits support personal recovery and contribute to the local economy as recipients can spend within their communities. 

We are honored to support Wake County residents through SOAR, helping them achieve stability and become productive members of society. The work we do has a ripple effect, and we are so grateful to be able to transform lives and strengthen our community as a whole. 

To learn more about the SOAR Program at SouthLight, including how to apply or refer someone, click here or call 919-787-6131