Social Security Disability Lawyer in California

Can You Receive Both SSDI and SSI

Yes. If your SSDI benefit is low enough, you may qualify for concurrent benefits, meaning you receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time. This often happens when a claimant has a limited work history or many years out of the workforce. Our attorneys identify concurrent eligibility during your initial review. Learn more about receiving SSI and SSDI together

What Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability in California?

A qualifying disability is any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents you from doing substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. The SSA evaluates your condition against its Listing of Impairments (the "Blue Book") and against your RFC (residual function capacity); what you can still do despite your limitations. Below is an overview of the most common qualifying categories.

Physical Conditions

Back injuries, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, and joint damage are among the most common bases for SSD claims. Cardiovascular conditions including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and chronic arrhythmias frequently qualify. Respiratory conditions such as COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis are evaluated based on breathing test results and functional limitations. Kidney disease, diabetes with complications, and neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease are also common qualifying bases.

Cancer is one of the most urgent categories. Many cancers qualify under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances program for fast-track approval. Learn more about

Mental Health Conditions

Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia all appear in the SSA's Listing of Impairments. Mental health claims are often harder to win than physical claims because the evidence is less objective. Treatment records, psychological evaluations, and detailed statements from treating providers become critical. The SSA evaluates mental RFC using four broad categories:

• Understanding and memory
• Sustained concentration and persistence
• Social interaction
• Adaptation to change

Our attorneys know how to document these limitations in the language the SSA uses. Read more about how to get disability approved for anxiety and depression

Compassionate Allowances: Fast-Track Approval for Severe Conditions

The SSA's Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program fast-tracks claims for conditions so severe that they nearly always meet disability standards. Over 250 conditions currently qualify, including ALS, certain aggressive cancers, early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and specific rare pediatric disorders. CAL cases can be approved in weeks rather than months. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a CAL-listed condition, this program may apply. Learn more about Compassionate Allowances and how they fast-track SSDI approval.

The Disability Claims Process in California, Step by Step

The SSD process in California follows five stages, and most approved claims go through at least three of them before a decision is reached. Here is how it works and where we fit in at each step.

Step 1: Initial Application

You file your initial application online at SSA.gov, by phone, or in person at a local California SSA field office. California's SSA field offices, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Diego, process some of the highest claim volumes in the country. At this stage, you submit your medical records, work history (using SSA-3368, the Adult Disability Report), and authorization for the SSA to request additional records. Most initial applications are decided by California's Disability Determination Services (DDS), not by SSA directly.

Step 2: Initial Review by California DDS

California's DDS is the state agency that makes initial and reconsideration disability determinations on behalf of the SSA. A DDS examiner and a medical consultant review your application against the Blue Book listings and your RFC. The typical timeline for an initial determination in California is 6 to 8 months. If the DDS does not have enough medical evidence, they may schedule a Consultative Examination (CE), which is a one-time exam with an SSA-contracted physician.

Step 3: Reconsideration (If Denied)

California is a full reconsideration state, meaning a denial at the initial level must go through reconsideration before you can request an ALJ hearing. A different DDS examiner reviews your case with any new evidence you submit. You have 60 days from the date of your denial letter to file, plus 5 days for mail delivery. The approval rate at the reconsideration level is low. Most claimants proceed to the ALJ hearing stage. We file the reconsideration request and submit updated medical evidence to build the strongest possible record for the hearing.

Step 4: ALJ Hearing

The Administrative Law Judge hearing is where the majority of winning cases are decided. You appear before an ALJ, in person or by video, and present testimony about your condition, limitations, and daily life. The SSA brings a vocational expert to testify about jobs you might still be able to perform. This is why attorney representation matters most at this stage. We prepare you, develop the theory of disability, and cross-examine the vocational expert to challenge any testimony that doesn't accurately reflect your limitations. Read more about what to expect at your disability hearing.

Step 5: Appeals Council and Federal Court

If the ALJ denies your claim, you may request review by the Appeals Council within 60 days. The Appeals Council can grant benefits, deny review, or remand the case back to an ALJ for another hearing. If the Appeals Council denies review, the final option is filing a civil action in U.S. District Court. Federal court review is based solely on the administrative record and no new evidence is introduced. Our attorneys handle appeals at all levels.

Why Claims Get Denied, and How We Fight Back

A denial does not mean your condition does not qualify. It usually means something was missing from your file. Here are the most common denial reasons we see and what we do about them.

• Insufficient medical evidence. The SSA denies claims when records don't document how your condition limits your ability to function, not just your diagnosis. We work with your treating physicians to get functional assessments, not just chart notes.
• Failure to meet a Listing or RFC threshold. Your condition may be severe but not severe enough under a specific Listing. We analyze your RFC in detail and build the case for why the grid rules or a medical-vocational allowance applies if you don't meet a Listing exactly.
• Earning above the SGA limit. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) in 2026 is $1,690/month for non-blind claimants and $2,830 for blind claimants. If you are working above these thresholds, your claim will be denied at step one. We advise on work activity and trial work period rules before you file.
• Failure to follow prescribed treatment. The SSA expects you to follow treatment unless you have a documented reason not to, such as cost, side effects, or medical contradiction. We address this proactively in your application.
• Non-cooperation. Missing appointments, failing to return SSA forms, or not responding to requests for information leads to technical denials. We handle all SSA communications on your behalf.

See a detailed breakdown of the common reasons SSDI claims are denied in California.

How Much Does a Disability Lawyer Cost in California?

Hiring a Social Security Disability attorney in California costs nothing upfront. SSD attorneys work on contingency, and the fee structure is regulated by the SSA, so there are no hidden charges and no retainer. Here is how it works:

If we win your case, our fee is 25% of your back pay (past-due benefits), capped at $9,200. If we do not win, you owe us nothing. The SSA approves and pays attorney fees directly from your back pay before releasing the remainder to you, so you never write us a check.

This fee cap is why the concern about "not being able to afford a lawyer" should never be a reason to go unrepresented. The law is designed so that an experienced SSD attorney is financially accessible to every claimant. Out-of-pocket expenses for things like medical record retrieval are discussed transparently at the start of your case.

California Disability Approval Rates and Statistics

California's approval rates at each stage of the SSD process track close to national averages, but the sheer volume of claims in the state means hearing wait times are often longer than in smaller states. Understanding these numbers helps set realistic expectations.

At the initial application level, approximately 35% of California claims are approved. At reconsideration, that rate drops to roughly 10–15%. At the ALJ hearing level, approval rates climb back to approximately 45–58% nationally with attorney representation increasing that rate significantly. Average hearing wait times in California have ranged from 14 to 22 months in recent years depending on the hearing office.