As of late 2022, national disability statistics report that around 26% of all Americans experience some form of disability. According to the report, California contains the 6th lowest percentage of disabled residents of anywhere in the country, reporting a low 11.3% disability rating. However, there are still 6,734,666 adults in California living with a disability.
Unfortunately, California also reports one of the lower of of employment for people with disabilities. This means that it is vital for disabled California residents to find whatever means they can to support themselves.
One of the best ways to do this is by applying for disability benefits through Social Security. Continue below to learn more about Santa Barbara Social Security, the Social Security offices in Santa Barbara, CA, and some tips for applying for benefits.
The Main Social Security Office in Santa Barbara
Address: 355 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (800) 772-1213
Office Hours:
MON: 09:00 AM — 04:00 PM
TUES: 09:00 AM — 04:00 PM
WED: 09:00 AM—12:00 PM
THUR: 09:00 AM — 04:00 PM
FRI: 09:00 AM — 04:00 PM
SAT & SUN: CLOSED
Directions:
By car: This Social Security Office in Santa Barbara is located in downtown Santa Barbara closest to the US-101. From either direction, take exit 96B onto Garden Street heading inland.
Make a left onto East Ortega Street and your second right onto State Street, where the Social Security office will be on your left at the cross street of Paseo Nuevo.
By public transit: The 20 bus, which travels along the coastline, drops patrons off directly in front of this Santa Barbara Social Security office at the Chapala & De La Guerra stop. The 11 bus, which travels north and south through downtown, drops patrons at the Transit Center stop, which is a 5-minute walk from the office.
If this distance is an issue for you, you can contact your local Santa Barbara Social Security office at the number above—(800) 722-1213—to discuss your options.
Santa Barbara’s ODAR Office
Santa Barbara's ODARs (Offices of Disability Adjudication and Review) are for disability applicants whose initial applications were denied.
Here, applicants can schedule a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ) to try and reverse the decision on their disability case.
Address: 222 E Carrillo St #206, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (886) 273-4953
List of All Santa Barbara ALJs:
- Judge Kyle E. Andeer
- Judge Mary L. Everstine
- Judge Henry Koltys
- Judge Roger E. Winkelman
Average Hearing Wait Time: 19.00 months
Average Processing Time: 606 days
Average Dispositions Per Day Per ALJ: 1.62
Congressional and Senatorial Offices in Santa Barbara
Some disability applicants find luck speeding up their application process by calling their local government offices. Doing so can get your application status relayed to you by an office worker, potentially forwarding it through certain lengthy steps of the process.
Other methods, such as speaking with a disability attorney, can also shorten the application wait time.
Congressional Representatives:
Salud Carbajal
Address: 360 S. Hope Ave. Suite C-301, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone: (805) 730-1710
Senators:
Dianne Feinstein
Address: 11111 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 915, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 914-7300
Kamala D. Harris
Address: 312 N. Spring St. Suite 1748, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 894-5000
Contacting a Disability Attorney
Unlike most attorneys, disability attorneys are a very low-risk, high reward benefit to disability applicants. Federal regulation prevents them from receiving payment unless they accept and win your case, which reduces the financial risk of help.
Their knowledge of the disability process is also statistically proven to increase your chances of getting benefits, from start to finish. Even if you win, attorneys can only receive up to 25% of your initial payment amount in return for their services.
Before you begin the next step of your disability process, consider a free consultation with a Santa Barbara disability attorney today.
