Social Security Disability Advocates
in California
California Disability Advocates: SSDI and SSI Help for California Residents
A California disability advocate is an SSA-authorized non-attorney representative who helps you apply for and pursue SSDI and SSI benefits.
Clauson Disability serves California residents nationwide, working exclusively on Social Security disability claims from the first application through an Administrative Law Judge hearing. If a health condition now makes it impossible to keep working after years on the job, here is how the process works and how a disability advocate can help. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is based on your work history and payroll taxes, while SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is need-based with strict income and asset limits. If you are unsure which one fits your situation, see the difference between SSDI and SSI.
- $0 upfront fees
- No fees unless you win
- Serving clients in all 50 states, including California
- Thousands of disability claimants served
Get your free case review:
(888) 251-5551You can also read more about the Social Security disability help we provide, including SSDI and SSI claims.
How the Disability Process Works
in California
In California, your claim moves through the same federal stages as everywhere else: initial application, reconsideration, and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
California claimants go through the same federal process as claimants anywhere in the country. The stages do not change by state. What varies is which state agency reviews the medical decision and how long each stage takes locally.
How Do You Earn Work Credits?
"You earn Social Security work credits by working and paying Social Security taxes, and in 2026 one credit takes $1,890 in covered earnings, up to four credits a year.
SSDI eligibility depends on having enough work credits, which is why work history matters for that program but not for SSI. For 2026, $1,890 in earnings equals one credit, and $7,560 earns the maximum of four credits for the year. These are federal figures and apply the same way in California as everywhere else.
Earning four credits in a year does not by itself mean you qualify for SSDI. Insured status depends on how many credits you have earned over your working life and how recently you worked, so the number of credits you need can differ based on your age when a disability begins. SSI does not require work credits at all, since it is based on financial need rather than work history."
Vaughn S. Clauson – Representative, Co-Founder
What are California's disability
approval rates?
In California, roughly 34.7% of initial claims are approved, and the approval rate rises to about 60.7% at the ALJ hearing level, based on SSA data for FY2026 through July 2026. Approval rates follow a clear pattern: the initial level is the hardest to clear, reconsideration approves only a small share, and the hearing level is where the odds improve the most. That pattern holds nationally and in California, which is why a denial early on does not mean a claim is over.
| Stage | California Approval Rate | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Application | ~34.7% | ~36.2% | |
| Reconsideration | ~16.0% | ~15.2% | |
| ALJ Hearing | ~60% | ~57.7% |
How do I apply for disability in California?
You can apply for disability in California online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a California SSA field office.
However you apply, SSA takes your application and forwards the medical portion to California DDS for the disability determination. Applying online is usually the fastest way to start, and having your medical records, work history, and treating-provider information ready before you begin helps avoid gaps that slow a claim down. If you are helping a family member apply, you can start the application on their behalf with their permission.
The process typically takes three to four months for an initial decision. You can do it yourself, without a trained advocate, if you choose to.
California Hearing Offices:
Locations, Wait Times, and Approval Rates
California has 17 SSA hearing offices, the largest hearing-office footprint of any state we serve. These offices schedule and hold ALJ hearings for claimants across the state, from the coast to the Central Valley. The Richmond National Case Assistance Center supports the hearing system but is not one of the 17 regular hearing offices. Which office is assigned to a claim depends on where the claimant lives, not which city they searched from.
| Hearing Office | Avg. Wait Time | Avg. Approval Rate | Address | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | 10 months | 65.7 % | 2440 Tulare St., Suite 300, Fresno, CA 93721 | ||
| Long Beach | 8 months | 55.3 % | 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Federal Building, Suite 5300, Long Beach, CA 90802 | ||
| Los Angeles Downtown | 8 months | 69.9 %+ | 888 S. Figueroa St., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | ||
| Los Angeles West | 9 months | 61.6%+ | 12121 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90025 | ||
| Moreno Valley | 9 Months | 53.7% | 22690 Cactus Ave., 3rd Floor, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 | ||
| Norwalk | 9 Months | 67.0% | 12440 E. Imperial Hwy., Suite 250, Norwalk, CA 90650 | ||
| Oakland | 8 Months | 65.6% | 1301 Clay St., Oakland Federal Building, Suite 200N, Oakland, CA 94612 | ||
| Orange | 9 Months | 58.9% | 1120 W. La Veta Ave., Centrum North, Suite 600, Orange, CA 92868 | ||
| Pasadena | 9 Months | 66.7% | 800 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena Towers 1, Suite 500, Pasadena, CA 91101 | ||
| Sacramento | 8 Months | 68.4% | 1610 Arden Way, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95815 | ||
| San Bernardino | 9 Months | 61.1% | 605 N. Arrowhead Ave., Suite 200, San Bernardino, CA 92401 | ||
| San Diego | 9 Months | 57.6% | 525 B St., Suite 900, San Diego, CA 92101 | ||
| San Francisco | 8 Months | 46.2% | 301 Howard St., Equity Building, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 | ||
| San Jose | 9 Months | 60.8% | 280 S. 1st St., Robert F. Peckham Federal Building, Room 330, San Jose, CA 95113-3005 | ||
| San Rafael | 9 Months | 60.7% | 4040 Civic Center Dr., Suite 230, San Rafael, CA 94903 | ||
| Santa Barbara | 9 Months | 68.5% | 222 E. Carrillo St., Suite 206, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | ||
| Stockton | 8 Months | 44.3% | 3116 W. March Ln., Suite 100, Stockton, CA 95219 |
California Hearing Office Addresses
Here are the current addresses and phone numbers for California's SSA hearing offices.
Fresno:
2440 Tulare St., Suite 300, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 866-596-7568 ext. 25222
Long Beach:
501 W. Ocean Blvd., Federal Building, Suite 5300, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 855-532-0889
Los Angeles Downtown:
888 S. Figueroa St., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: 888-488-0517 ext. 15045
Los Angeles West:
12121 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 866-748-2089
Moreno Valley:
22690 Cactus Ave., 3rd Floor, Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Phone: 866-737-4503 ext. 18001
Norwalk:
12440 E. Imperial Hwy., Suite 250, Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: 877-870-6385
Oakland:
1301 Clay St., Oakland Federal Building, Suite 200N, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 866-366-4916
Orange:
1120 W. La Veta Ave., Centrum North, Suite 600, Orange, CA 92868
Phone: 866-593-1447
Pasadena:
800 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena Towers 1, Suite 500, Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: 866-354-0220
Sacramento:
1610 Arden Way, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: 866-931-2544
San Bernardino:
605 N. Arrowhead Ave., Suite 200, San Bernardino, CA 92401
Phone: 866-331-7127 ext. 12502
San Diego:
525 B St., Suite 900, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 866-331-2294
San Francisco:
301 Howard St., Equity Building, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 866-770-1221 ext. 19111
San Jose:
280 S. 1st St., Robert F. Peckham Federal Building, Room 330, San Jose, CA 95113-3005
Phone: 800-772-1213 (SSA national line)
San Rafael:
4040 Civic Center Dr., Suite 230, San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: 800-772-1213 (SSA national line)
Santa Barbara:
222 E. Carrillo St., Suite 206, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: 866-273-4953
Stockton:
3116 W. March Ln., Suite 100, Stockton, CA 95219
Phone: 866-494-3136
No office matches your search.
17 hearing offices
Choose an office from the list for its address and phone number.
How Clauson Disability Helps California Residents
Clauson Disability serves California residents nationwide, with no fees unless you win your case.
Clauson Disability is a national advocacy organization focused exclusively on Social Security disability claims. We serve California residents nationwide, which means you work with the same experienced team regardless of which California city or county you call home. Our advocates and representatives handle the application and appeals, and when your case reaches a hearing, one of our attorneys represents you.
medical evidence: identifying what your records are missing and working with your providers to fill those gaps before the application goes in.
Filing the application: making sure it is complete, accurate, and consistent with your medical record.
Responding to a denial: filing a timely reconsideration and strengthening the record before the case is reviewed again.
Social Security Field Offices in California
Field offices are where you file an application in person, submit documents, and handle other Social Security business. They take your application and forward the medical portion to California DDS for the disability determination.
SSA field offices statewide.
You do not have to visit a field office to work with us or to apply, since applications can be filed online at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213.
Durham, North Carolina
Since 2009, Clauson Disability in Durham has focused exclusively on advocating for Social Security Disability claimants. North Carolina is our home market. While we represent clients in all 50 states, our deepest work is in NC. This is where we know the DDS examiners, the four hearing offices, and the ALJs who decide these cases. Our team is continuously credentialed to SSA standards. Learn more about our team.
Ready to Get Disability Help in California?
"If a health condition has made it difficult to keep working, our team can review your situation and explain how it fits SSA's evaluation, usually in about 15 to 20 minutes. California claimants face the same federal disability process as claimants anywhere else, and the same rules apply. What changes case to case is how complete and clear the medical record is. We serve claimants in all 50 states, including California, and there is no cost to find out where you stand.
Based in Durham. Serving all of North Carolina. Start your free case review or call (888) 251-5551. No upfront cost."
Elizabeth – Senior Representative
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Help in California
A California disability advocate
helps you apply for and pursue SSDI and SSI benefits, from the initial
application through your hearing. Our advocates and representatives handle the
administrative process, and when your case reaches a hearing, one of our
attorneys represents you.
In California, about 34.7% of
initial claims are approved and roughly 16.0% at reconsideration, rising to
approximately 60.7% at the ALJ hearing level, based on SSA data for FY2026
through July 2026. Rates change over time and vary by hearing office.
Timelines vary by stage and
hearing office. In California, average waits from a hearing request to a
hearing held were roughly 8 to 10 months for cases closed in July 2026, and
that is separate from the earlier application and reconsideration stages. SSA
publishes current processing times, which shift over time.
California has 17 SSA hearing
offices, the largest hearing-office footprint of any state we serve. SSA
assigns your hearing office based on where you live. Addresses and phone
numbers for each office are listed above.
Yes. When your California claim
reaches an ALJ hearing, one of our attorneys represents you at that hearing.
Our advocates and representatives handle the application and appeal stages
leading up to it.
No. We serve disability
claimants in all 50 states, including California. You work with the same team
no matter where in California you live.
You pay nothing upfront, and
representatives are paid only if you win. The fee is set by SSA rule at the
lesser of 25% of your past-due benefits or $9,200.
No. Many claimants choose a
non-attorney representative for the administrative process, which covers the
application, reconsideration, and hearing. A licensed attorney is required only
if a claim reaches federal court. At Clauson Disability, your hearing is
handled by one of our attorneys.
California is one of the states
that adds a State Supplementary Payment (SSP) on top of the federal SSI amount,
and SSA administers that supplement, so eligible recipients receive a single
combined payment. For 2026, an aged or disabled individual living independently
receives a $994 federal SSI payment plus a $239.94 state supplement, for a
combined maximum of $1,233.94 per month. Blind individuals and eligible couples
receive higher combined amounts. Other living arrangements use different
payment standards.
Clauson Disability is a national advocacy organization. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, legal services, or legal representation. This website is an advertisement. Clauson Disability is a private organization and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any other government agency. We provide non-attorney disability advocacy and support services and do not offer legal advice. Contacting us, submitting a form, or speaking with our team does not create an attorney-client relationship. By providing your contact information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to receive communications by phone, text, and/or email including through automated technology where permitted. Consent is not required as a condition of service. We do not determine eligibility or qualify any applicant for SSDI or SSI. Only the SSA determines eligibility and benefit amounts. $4,018 represents the maximum monthly SSDI benefit; actual amounts vary.
