If you have worked before but you have been diagnosed with a disabling condition and you can’t work any longer you can apply for SSDI in California. Social Security disability benefits are available to people in California who have worked in the past but who can’t work now because they are ill or injured.
SSDI Eligibility Criteria in California
SSDI eligibility in California is the same as the SSDI eligibility criteria in the rest of the country. When you apply for SSDI in California you must provide documentation showing that you have a medical condition that is disabling, and you must prove that you meet the SSA’s medical and work credit requirements.
Medical Disability Requirements
The Social Security Administration has a set of requirements that you must meet if you’re applying for SSDI in California. The first requirement is that you must have a letter of diagnosis showing you have a condition that is listed in the SSA’s Blue Book.
There are more than 200 medical conditions listed in the Blue Book, and each condition has a unique set of requirements that must be met. You can search through the Blue Book online through the SSA’s website. Or, you can visit any Social Security Administration office in California to look through a copy of the Blue Book.
You will need to include a letter of diagnosis and as much medical evidence as possible with your application for SSDI in California. The medical evidence that you should submit should explain exactly what your symptoms are and exactly how they prevent you from working.
You can also submit letters of support from your doctor, previous employers, or anyone else who can speak to how your illness makes it impossible for you to work. The SSA will examine all of the supporting documents that you submit to decide if you meet the SSDI eligibility criteria in California.
Work Requirements
In addition to meeting all of the SSA’s medical requirements, you will have to show that you have earned enough work credits to qualify for SSDI in California. And, you must have been unable to work for at least 12 months before you can submit your application for SSDI.
Sometimes the work credit requirement for SSDI can be confusing, but it’s really not that complicated. Work credits are something that you earn based on the money that you have been paid and how many years you worked before you were disabled.
Work credits in California are calculated the same way that they are calculated in other states. They are based on the amount that you are paid and the number of hours that you work.
Work credit requirements are different by age in California. The work credit requirements by age in California are:
- Under Age 24: 6 work credits, or about 1.5 years of work.
- Ages 24-30: You need to have earned credits for half the time between age 21 and the age you become disabled. For example: If you become disabled at age 27, you need 12 work credits or 3 years of work.
- Ages 31 and Older: You typically need 20 work credits earned in the last 10 years prior to your disability. However, the total number of credits required increases with age. Here’s a general guideline:
- Age 31-42: 20 credits (5 years of work)
- Age 43-54: 24 credits (6 years of work)
- Age 55-64: 28 credits (7 years of work)
- Age 65 and older: 40 credits (10 years of work)
Financial Requirements
If you’re applying for SSDI you also will need to prove that you meet some financial requirements that the Social Security Administration has set. SSDI was created to help people who cannot work because of a disability, so the SSA wants to make sure that people who apply for SSDI are physically not capable of working. When you apply for SSDI in California you will have to meet these financial requirements:
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): You must earn less than $1,470 per month (or $2,460 per month if you are blind) in order to qualify for SSDI. If you earn more than that the SSA will assume you can work and don’t need benefits.
- Trial Work Period: SSDI recipients can test their ability to work while still receiving benefits. During a trial work period, you can earn up to $1,050 per month for nine months without affecting your benefits.
- Work Incentives: After the trial work period, you may still receive benefits for a period while earning above the SGA limit, thanks to work incentives designed to support your transition back to work.
State-Specific Eligibility Rules
There are no state-specific eligibility rules for applying for SSDI in California. To be eligible for SSDI in California you must meet the same eligibility requirements set by the SSA.
SSDI Benefits in California
Curious about how much SSDI benefits in California pay? The amount of money that you receive is calculated according to a strict formula that is based on your earnings.
The SSA will take your average indexed monthly earnings, (AIME), which is your average earnings over your working years adjusted for inflation. The Social Security Administration uses this to calculate your benefits as part of the PIA formula.
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) Formula
The PIA is the base amount used by the Social Security Administration to calculate SSDI benefits. In 2024, the formula used to calculate the PIA is:
90% of the first $1,370 of your AIME,
32% of your AIME over $1,370 and up to $8,194, and
15% of your AIME over $8,194.
The maximum SSDI benefit in 2024 is approximately $3,627 per month. The average SSDI payment in California is $1,508.94.
Healthcare Benefits
SSDI recipients in California may qualify for Medicare after two years of receiving SSDI. You will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A after 24 months of SSDI. If you need health care while you are waiting to be enrolled in Medicare you may be able to qualify for Medi-Cal, which is California’s state-administered Medicaid program.
If you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, you may be eligible for Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace. You may be able to qualify for subsidies through Covered California to help pay for medical care until you are eligible for Medicare.
Other State-Specific Benefits
If you are receiving SSDI in California, you may also be eligible for:
- CalFresh food assistance
- In House Support Services
- Section 8 housing vouchers
- Discounted transportation
Applying for SSDI in California
The application process for SSDI in California can be confusing, so you may want to work with a California disability attorney who can help you sort through all the requirements. Deadlines are extremely important when you’re applying for SSDI. You must meet all deadlines and include all required documents or your application for SSDI in California will be automatically denied.
When you are ready to apply you can apply online, over the phone, or in person at your local SSA office in California.
Documents Needed for Application
When you apply for SSDI you need to include copies of all these documents with your application forms:
- Proof of identity
- Medical records
- Work history
- Financial Records
- Social Security number
Application Timeline
It can take 3-6 months, or longer, to receive a decision on an SSDI application in California. If your initial application is denied, you can file an appeal. The appeal could also take 3-6 months after you file.
Appeals Process for Denied SSDI Applications in California
It’s very common for an SSDI application to be denied. But you can ask for reconsideration if your initial application is denied.
You will need to send in a request for reconsideration within 60 days of the date on your denial letter.
If your reconsideration is denied, you can ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. And if that is denied you can ask for a hearing before the Appeals Council. You can even file a lawsuit in Federal court as a last resort.
How Long Does the Appeals Process Take?
Reconsideration typically takes 3-6 months. But if your reconsideration is denied the next appeal could take six months to a year. And the more appeals you need to file the longer each one takes. To speed up the process make sure that you meet all requested deadlines.
Resources for SSDI Applicants in California
Some resources and agencies that can help you apply for SSDI in California are:
- California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
- Legal Aid Societies
- Disability Rights California (DRC)
California State Disability Insurance (SDI) Program
Working with a California SSI Lawyer
Working with an SSDI lawyer from California can raise your chances of getting your application approved. A California SSDI lawyer can help you with things like:
- Meeting deadlines
- Understanding the application
- Gathering medical evidence
- Filling out the application
- Filing appeals
Fill out the Free Case Evaluation now to get connected with an SSDI lawyer who subscribes to this website and may be able to help you with your California SSDI application.
