Below is an overview of the disability benefit process in California and some helpful resources and contact information.
Updated March 15, 2018
Social Security disability benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are federal programs. While these disability programs are run by the federal government (the Social Security Administration), there are some differences in California. Below is an overview of the disability benefit process in California and some helpful resources and contact information.
The Social Security Disability Process in California
After you file an initial disability application with the local Social Security Administration (SSA) field office (or by telephone or online), the application is forwarded to the Disability Determination Service Division (DDSD), a state agency under the California Department of Social Services. A disability claims examiner at DDSD will make the medical determination as to whether you qualify for disability benefits. You can find contact information for the DDSD offices below.
If you are denied benefits, you can appeal by requesting that DDSD reconsider your claim. If DDSD denies you again, you can request an appeal hearing in front of an administrative law judge. (In the north and west areas of Los Angeles, you can skip the reconsideration stage and straight to an appeal hearing. Call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to find out whether reconsideration is required in your area.)
Social Security Disability Statistics in California
California's approval rate for disability benefits is about the same as the national average for awarding of benefits. After filing the initial application, only 34% of disability applicants are approved to receive benefits. At the reconsideration level (the first level of appeal), 12% of the previously denied cases are approved. At the disability hearing level (the second level of appeal), in 2017/2018, 57% of the previously denied cases were approved for benefits (with a higher percentage of disability claimants who have a disability lawyer or representative winning benefits).
| Stage of Application |
California |
Nationally |
|
Initial Application |
34% |
36% |
|
Reconsideration Review |
12% |
11% |
|
Appeal Hearing |
57% |
55% |
The average wait time in California for an ALJ hearing in 2018 is about 19 months. In 2016, the average SSDI payment in California was about $1,200.
SSI Benefit Amounts in California
As SSI is a federal program, the federal government provides a monthly benefit to all who qualify. But the State of California adds a supplementary payment onto the monthly federal benefits. This extra payment affects not only the amount of SSI you'll get but also your eligibility for SSI (because it raises the income limit for SSI).
In 2018, the federal government provided the following monthly benefits to SSI disability recipients with no other income:
|
Federal Monthly SSI Benefit |
|
|
Individual |
$750 |
|
Couple |
$1,125 |
And California provides the following additional benefits depending on your living situation:
|
CA Monthly Benefit |
Total Monthly Benefit (CA and Federal) |
|
|
Living independently with cooking Facilities |
Individual: $160.72 Couple: $407.14 |
Individual: $910.72 Couple: $1,532.14 |
|
Living independently without cooking facilities |
Individual: $247.04 Couple: $579.77 |
Individual: $997.04 Couple: $1,704.77 |
|
Living in nonmedical out-of-home care situation |
Individual: $423.37 Couple: $1,221.74 |
Individual: $1,173.37 Couple: $2,346.74 |
|
Living in the household of another |
Individual: $164.24 Couple: $412.41 |
Individual: $664.24 Couple: $1,162.41 |
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
If you are in need of services to help you attempt to return to work while on disability (or if your benefits are terminated), California provides services through the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). There are over 85 field offices throughout the state; below is the contact information for some of the central offices. Information about the office closest to you can also be found at www.dor.ca.gov.
Greater East Bay
1485 Enea Court, Suite 1100
Concord, CA 94520-5228
Phone: (925) 602-3953
San Francisco
301 Howard Street, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94105-6604
Phone: (415) 904-7100
San Jose
100 Paseo de San Antonio
Room 324
San Jose, CA 95113-1479
Phone: (408) 277-1355
Greater Los Angeles
3333 Wilshire Blvd. Suite, 200
Los Angeles, CA 90010-4101
Phone: (213) 736-3904
Los Angeles South Bay
4300 Long Beach Boulevard,
Suite 200
Long Beach, CA 90807-2008
Phone: (562) 422-8325
If you have any difficulties with DOR, you may contact the Client Assistance Program (CAP) for help. They can be contacted at 800-952-5544.
How to Contact the DDSD
California's DDSD makes the initial decision regarding whether or not you will receive disability benefits. They have 11 branches throughout California.
San Diego Branch
P.O. Box 85326
San Diego, CA 92186-5326
Phone: (619) 278-4300
La Jolla Branch
P.O. Box 85501
San Diego, CA 92186-5501
Phone: (619) 278-4550
Sacramento Branch
P.O. Box 997120
Sacramento, CA 95899-7120
Phone: (916) 263-5000
Roseville Branch
P.O. Box 619020
Roseville, CA 95678-9861
Phone: (916) 774-4100
Oakland Branch
P.O. Box 24225
Oakland, CA 94623-1225
Phone: (510) 622-3506
Los Angeles West Branch
P.O. Box 60999
Los Angeles, CA 90060-0999
Phone: (213) 736-7500
Los Angeles North Branch
P.O. Box 54800
Los Angeles, CA 90054-0800
Phone: (213) 736-7000
Sierra Branch
P.O. Box 28937
Fresno, CA 93720-8937
Phone: (559) 440-5200
Central Valley Branch
P.O. Box 28931
Fresno, CA 93729-9835
Phone: (559) 440-5000
Covina Branch
P.O. Box 6118
Covina, CA 91722-6118
Phone: (213) 736-7900
Stockton Branch
P.O. Box 207015
Stockton, CA 95267
Rancho Bernardo Branch
P.O. Box 509135
San Diego, CA 92150
How to Contact a Hearing Office in California
The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) handles all hearings. Its regional headquarters are located in San Francisco. There are also hearing offices in many other cities.
SSA, Office of Hearings Operations
5th Floor
555 Battery Street
San Francisco, California 94111
Phone: (866) 964-7584
Fax: (415) 705-2020
In addition, there are 18 OHO offices that service California. One office is located in Arizona, but services a California location (El Centro).
Downey
8345 Firestone Boulevard
Suite 210
Downey, California 90241
Phone: (877) 870-6385
Fax: (562) 869-8943
Services the following Social Security field offices: Compton, Downey, Huntington Park, Norwalk, Watts, and Whittier
Fresno
2440 Tulare Street, Suite 300
Fresno, California 93721
Phone: (866) 596-7568
Fax: (559) 443-1281
Services the following field offices: Bakersfield, Bakersfield-East Hills, Delano, Fresno, Hanford, Madera, Merced, Porterville, Southeast Fresno, Visalia, and West Fresno (as well as Grand Island, Nebraska)
Long Beach
Federal Building, Suite 5300
501 West Ocean Boulevard
Long Beach, California 90802
Phone: (562) 980-4116
Fax: (562) 980-4131
Services the following field offices: Lakewood, Long Beach, and Torrance
Los Angeles (Downtown)
City National Bank Building, Suite 1200
606 South Olive Street
Los Angeles, California 90014
Phone: (213) 894-2669
Fax: (213) 894-2595
Services the following field offices: Boyle Heights, Crenshaw, Inglewood, Los Angeles Downtown, Montebello, University Village, and Wilshire Center
Los Angeles (West)
Suite 400
12121 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90024
Phone: (866) 748-2089
Fax: (310) 479-3370
Services the following field offices: Chatsworth, Los Angeles Westwood, Media Cities, Santa Clarita, and Van Nuys
Moreno Valley
22690 Cactus Avenue
3rd Floor
Moreno Valley, California 92553
Phone: (866) 737-4503
Fax: (951) 867-3779
Oakland
Oakland Federal Building, Suite 200N
1301 Clay Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (866) 366-4916
Fax: (510) 637-3424
Services the following field offices: Antioch, Berkeley, East Oakland, Fremont, Hayward/Livermore (merged), Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro, and Walnut Creek (as well as Eau Claire and Rice Lake, Wisconsin)
Orange
Centrum North, Suite 600
1120 West La Veta Avenue
Orange, California 92868
Phone: (866) 593-1447
Fax: (714) 246-8271
Services the following field offices: Anaheim, Brea, Corona, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Missions Viejo, Ontario, Pomona Valley, and San Anar
Pasadena
Pasadena Towers 1
800 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 500
Pasadena, California 91101
Phone: (866) 354-0220
Fax: (626) 793-3080
Services the following field offices: Alhambra, El Monte, Glendale, Glendora, Pasadena, and West Covina
Sacramento
Suite 250
1610 Arden Way
Sacramento, California 95815
Phone: (866) 931-2544
Fax: (916) 925-5014
Services the following field offices: Auburn, Chico, Feather River, Oroville, Placerville, Redding, Roseville, Sacramento, Sacramento (North), Sacramento (South), Sacramento (West), and Susanville
San Bernardino
Suite 200
605 North Arrowhead Avenue
San Bernardino, California 92401
Phone: (866) 331-7127
Fax: (909) 381-9288
Services the following field offices: Barstow, Blythe, Fontana, Hemet, Indio, Moreno Valley, Morongo Basin, Redlands, and Victorville
San Diego
525 B Street, 8th Floor
San Diego, California 92101
Phone: (866) 331-2294
Fax: (619) 557-6733
Services the following field offices: Chula Vista, El Cajon, Kearny Mesa, La Mesa, National City, San Diego, and San Marcos
San Francisco
Equity Building, 16th Floor
301 Howard Street
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: 866-770-1221
Fax: (415) 744-2548
Services the following field offices: Bakersfield, Bakersfield-East Hills, Chinatown, Crescent City, Daly City, Mission, San Francisco - Downtown, and San Mateo
San Jose
RSP Federal Building, Suite 330
280 South First Street
San Jose, California 95113-3086
Phone: (866) 331-2219
Fax: (408) 535-5286
Services the following field offices: Campbell, Gilroy, Mountain View, Redwood City, Salinas, San Jose, San Jose East, San Jose South, Santa Cruz, and Watsonville
San Rafael
Suite 230
4040 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, California 94903
Phone: (866) 814-3559
Fax: (415) 472-5824
Services the following field offices: Eureka, Fairfield, Lakeport, Napa, Ukiah, and Vallejo
Santa Barbara
Suite 206
222 East Carrillo Street
Santa Barbara, California 93101
Phone: (866) 273-4953
Fax: (805) 564-3404
Services the following field offices: Chatsworth, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura
Stockton
3116 W. March Lane, Suite 100
Stockton, California 95219
Phone: (866) 494-3136
Fax: (209) 477-3394
Services the following field offices: Lodi, Manteca, Modesto, Sonora, and Stockton
Tucson
Rio Nuevo Professional Plaza, Suite 265
201 N. Bonita Ave.
Tucson, Arizona 85745
Phone: (888) 383-8694
Fax: (520) 670-6909
Services the El Centro Social Security field office in California
Short-Term Disability
California has a short-term disability insurance (SDI) program that provides eight to ten weeks of benefits for those who are ill or injured and unable to work. The SDI benefit is 55% of your normal wages. California's paid family leave program also provides up to six weeks of paid leave. For more information, see our article on California short-term disability.
Getting Legal Help
If you're considering hiring a disability lawyer, see our California disability lawyer page.
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