SSDI in California
Every California SSDI application is medically reviewed by the California DDS in Sacramento (multiple branches). Here's what to expect.
State DDS: California DDS
DDS location: Sacramento (multiple branches)
Federal appeals circuit: 9th Circuit
SSA regional office: San Francisco
Initial decision wait: Very High
Reconsideration wait: Very High
ALJ hearing wait: Very High
What's different about filing in California?
The federal SSDI program is national — your eligibility doesn't depend on where you live. But three things do vary by state:
- Your DDS's backlog. The California DDS processes every California claim. Current wait patterns for California: Very High at the initial decision, Very High at reconsideration, and Very High at the ALJ hearing stage.
- Your appeals circuit. California is in the 9th Circuit. If your case goes to federal court, that's the court that hears it, and its precedent controls interpretation of SSA regulations.
- State supplement programs. Some states add a supplement to federal SSI (not SSDI), or offer additional help for disability applicants (Medicaid, state disability, housing). SSA itself doesn't administer these — contact your state's Department of Health and Human Services.
How to file in California
You have the same three options as everywhere in the US:
- Online at ssa.gov/benefits/disability/ — available in every state, recommended for most applicants.
- Phone at 1-800-772-1213.
- In-person at your local SSA field office. Use the SSA Office Locator for the nearest one in California.
If you're denied in California
Your appeal goes first to the same DDS that denied you (reconsideration), then to an Administrative Law Judge hearing, then potentially to the Appeals Council, and finally to the federal district court covering your part of California — which sits within the 9th Circuit.
See our full appeals guide for deadlines (60 days at each level), strategy, and attorney-fee rules.
Very High hearing wait in California. This state is among the slower in the country for ALJ hearings. Budget 12+ months after requesting a hearing before you'll be scheduled.