by Amy Kirkland
Supporting Mr. P Through His SSDI Application Journey
My usual role at the COAC involves checking mail. Over time, by seeing the same guests repeatedly, I
gradually learn their stories, often in fragments. One memorable day last summer, I had the opportunity to work with Mr. P and conduct his intake assessment.
The intake assessment process includes asking questions about health and income. During Mr. P’s assessment, two important things became clear: he had significant health issues, particularly related to seizures, and he needed to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). I discovered he was receiving support from Grady for his seizures, but he was still unhoused. To address his SSDI needs, I encouraged Mr. P to meet with our SSDI advocate on Wednesday. Although I had to remind him a couple of times, he eventually visited Suzanne Struble, our SSI/SSDI advocate, who arranged an appointment to start his application.
During each step of the application, Mr. P received letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), detailing subsequent actions. Suzanne or I would read these letters to ensure he followed the instructions. He completed his application at the downtown SSA office, and Grady assisted with documentation. However, the process required further steps. Mr. P needed to meet with a physician to assess his disability status.
When I reviewed the letter about his physician appointment, I found it was scheduled nearly two months away in Griffin, GA, which was inaccessible for Mr. P. I submitted a request for a closer appointment, and the result was only slightly better—his appointment was in Snellville, an hour from Atlanta, but scheduled within a few weeks. Recognizing the importance of this appointment for Mr. P’s well-being and SSDI approval, I approached Kimberly, explained the situation, and asked if we could arrange an Uber for him. Before I finished asking, Kimberly agreed.
On the day of the appointment, I prepared a letter for Mr. P to present at the doctor’s office, requesting they notify me of his arrival and help arrange his return via Uber. I was anxious about sending Mr. P, who struggles with communication through no fault of his own, to an unfamiliar place. To my relief, the doctor’s office confirmed his arrival and ensured he got back safely.
Afterwards, we received several more letters to review. Mr. P needed one final doctor’s evaluation to complete the process. Once again, I turned to Kimberly for what I hoped would be the last Uber ride—this time to Decatur. We believed navigating buses and trains would be too difficult for him, and Kimberly agreed without hesitation. The team worked together once more, and the doctor’s office accepted my letter, confirmed his arrival, and notified me when he was ready to return.
The day was joyous when we received the letter confirming Mr. P’s SSDI check would arrive soon. The best moment came when he checked his mail and picked up his first check. This achievement brings hope that Mr. P will soon have an apartment to call his own. At the very least, it provides options and choices that were previously unavailable to him.