If you become disabled because of an injury, illness, or other condition, it can feel incredibly destabilizing, especially when you have significant medical bills and can no longer work. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an option to recover benefits, and if you are eligible, you should apply for these benefits as soon as you become disabled. It helps to know how to apply for SSDI benefits in California and what information you need to gather.
Where to Apply for SSDI in California?
You can apply for SSDI online through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. You can also apply over the phone by calling the SSA during its business hours. If necessary, you can also apply in person at one of the SSA field offices. There are three SSA field offices in Sacramento and one in West Sacramento. You can contact these offices to make an appointment.
Meeting the Qualifications of SSDI
It’s first important to determine whether you qualify for SSDI. The two main qualifications for SSDI are:
- Your condition meets the qualifications to be considered a disability.
- You worked in jobs under Social Security and paid those taxes.
There were 8.61 million beneficiaries of SSDI in the U.S. in 2024 and 614,235 in California. The same year, there were nearly 1.78 million applications for SSDI. Of these applications, there was an award rate of 23.8% and an allowance rate of 48.0%.
Proving Your Disability
A disability by the SSA’s definition is one that is severe, total, and long-term. It must meet all the following requirements:
- Your condition prevents you from engaging in your previous work duties, and you are unable to adjust to new work duties.
- You are unable to complete substantial gainful activity due to your condition.
- Your condition is expected to last for at least 12 months, has already lasted 12 months, or is expected to lead to death.
In California, 12.1% of the population is disabled, as of 2024 data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau.
As part of your applications for SSDI, you will need to prove that your disability meets these qualifications. You may need to submit documents like:
- Contact information of someone who knows of your medical condition and can help with your application
- Details about your medical illness, injury, or other condition
- Contact information, patient ID numbers, and treatment dates at all hospitals and for any doctors
- Names of medications and the practitioner that prescribed them
- Types and dates of medical tests and the practitioner who had you take them
If the condition you have is not on the SSA’s list of qualifying conditions, you may need further documentation of the ways it is impacting your life, its symptoms, and how it limits your ability to work and do other tasks.
If you don’t submit enough documentation, your application is likely to be denied.
Proving Your Work History
In order to qualify for SSDI, you must have a set amount of work history, and a portion of that work history must have been recent. This is determined by work credits, which you earn each quarter if you make sufficient money. You can get up to four work credits each year. You generally need 40 work credits, with 20 of them in the prior ten years, to qualify for SSDI. However, there are different requirements if you are disabled when you are younger.
To prove your work history, you need information like:
- How much you earned in the prior two years of working
- Your employer’s contact information
- A Social Security Statement copy
- A list of your prior jobs in the five years before disability
- A list of any benefits you have received, such as workers’ compensation benefits
The application should also explain how your work was affected by your disability and why it prevents you from continuing your employment.
After an Application
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. The SSA may request further information. Eventually, you will receive its decision.
FAQs
What Qualifies a Person for SSDI in California?
Someone is qualified for SSDI in California when they have an injury, illness, or other condition that meets the SSA’s definition for a disability and they have previously worked in jobs that were covered by Social Security. A qualifying disability is one that is severe, long-term, and total. For the employment requirement, you must have earned a certain number of work credits, the amount of which depends on your age when you were disabled.
How Much Does SSDI Pay Per Month in California?
The amount that SSDI pays per month in California depends on your work history, including the work credits you accumulated, the amount you paid in Social Security taxes, your income before you were disabled, and how old you were when you were disabled.
The average monthly payment in 2024 was $1,580.79 for workers who received SSDI. The average monthly payment for disabled children was $1,063.87, and the monthly payment for widows or widowers was $951.06.
When Should You Hire an SSDI Lawyer in California?
You should hire an SSDI lawyer in California as soon as possible if you are applying for SSDI benefits. When you work with an attorney before submitting an application, they can help you assess your eligibility, gather information for the application, and prove your eligibility.
If you already submitted an application, then working with an attorney is helpful if your benefits were denied. They can help you understand your options for an appeal, including a request for reconsideration.
What Is the Cost of an SSDI Lawyer?
The cost of an SSDI lawyer is outlined by the SSA. Fees for the past-due benefits awarded in a case are capped at either 25% or $9,200, whichever is the lower amount, as of 2026. The numerical cap is changed each year. An SSDI lawyer usually charges a contingency fee, meaning they are only paid attorney’s fees when you are successful in securing benefits. If you don’t secure benefits, you don’t owe attorney fees.
Working With a California SSDI Attorney
A crucial part of the SSDI process is working with a lawyer. At Gade & Parekh, LLP, we have nearly 50 combined years of legal experience helping workers like you get benefits you are owed. Contact us today.