Social Security Administration Referral Process 

Clients who are required to apply for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits and who do not have an active referral with the SSI Advocacy unit, must be referred to apply through SSA. Clients may apply online, by phone, or in person.

Exception: Clients who are required to apply for Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) must be referred to the SSA even if they do have an active referral with the SSI Advocacy unit as the unit only handles Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications.

The Social Service Benefits Specialist (SSBS) must follow the steps below when referring a client to the SSA:

1. Ensures a current Authorization for Reimbursement of Interim Assistance Initial Claim or Posteligibility Case (SSP 14) form, and Individuals who are Unable to Work (GA 1123) form are signed and scanned to Imaging.

   1. Reminder: These forms are required at intake and every annual reinvestigation.

2. Informs the client that they are required to apply for benefits through SSA.
3. Provides the client with the following:
   1. A Request for Verification (CW 2200) form or a Notice (SCD 50 or SCD 50 MC) form to indicate:
      1. What SSA benefits they need to apply for,
      2. Types of acceptable verification (SCD 169 completed by SSA, a printout from the client's my Social Security online account, a letter from SSA, etc.), and
      3. The due date for the verification.
   2. A Social Security Administration Locations (SCD 2243) flyer which lists the website, phone number(s), and addresses for SSA (or this information can be manually added to the SCD 50/SCD 50 MC).
   3. A Referral to Social Security (SCD 169) form with the Social Services portions filled out.
4. Adds a CalSAWS Reminder with the verification due date. Refer to Chewable Byte (CB) 24-98: How to Add a Reminder.
   1. If the client does not provide verification by the due date, discontinues GA.
   2. If the client does provide verification by the due date, add the information in CalSAWS [refer to PD 24-16].

      1. Reminder: If the client provides the SCD 169 as verification, ensure it has the requested information completed, the Social Security Claims Representative's signature, title, phone number, and date, and has the Social Security office stamp. 

Important: Clients are not required to apply for SSA benefits in person, so if they can provide appropriate proof that they have applied online or by phone (a my Social Security online account printout, SSA letter, etc.), they do not have to get the SCD 169 completed at the SSA office.