Too sick or hurt to work? Idiart Law Group helps people across California apply for Social Security disability benefits and appeal denials. Our clients are approved at over 2x higher rates than the national average. You pay No Fee Until We Win.
How California Stacks Up
Numbers from the Social Security Administration. They show how common disability claims are in California, and how the process tends to go.
disabled workers in California receive Social Security Disability Insurance.
December 2025of California residents aged 18 to 64 receive Social Security disability benefits. Nationwide it is 3.5%.
December 2025average monthly benefit for a disabled worker in California. Nationwide it is $1,633.
December 2025of first applications in California were approved. Nationwide it was 36%.
Fiscal year 2026of first appeals, called reconsiderations, were approved in California. Nationwide it was 15%.
Fiscal year 2026of the cases judges decided at the California hearing offices were approvals. Nationwide it was 58%.
Fiscal year 2026average wait for a hearing at the offices that serve California.
September 2026What These Numbers Mean for You
About 7 of every 10 first applications in California are turned down. A denial is not the end of your claim. You can appeal, and you generally have 60 days after you receive the decision to do it.
The appeals take patience. The first appeal is called reconsideration. After that come a hearing with a judge, the Appeals Council, and federal court. We handle each step with you, so you are not doing this alone.
How Our California Disability Team Helps
1. We apply with you
Social Security's own advice is to apply as soon as you become disabled. We fill out the forms with you and gather your medical records.
2. We appeal a denial
You generally have 60 days after you receive a denial to appeal. We file the appeal and tell Social Security about new treatment, new tests and new doctors.
3. We go to the hearing with you
If your claim reaches a judge, we prepare you and present your case. Social Security has 17 hearing offices in California.
SSDI or SSI?
Social Security Disability Insurance
People with a disability who worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security.
The monthly payment is based on your work history.
Supplemental Security Income
People with a disability, blindness, or age 65 or older who have little income and few resources.
It is based on financial need, not work history.
Some people qualify for both at the same time. We check both.
Hearing Offices That Serve California
Social Security has 17 hearing offices in California. These are Social Security's own figures.
| Hearing office | Average wait for a hearing (September 2026) | Share of decisions that were approvals (fiscal year 2026) | Approvals of decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | 8 months | 69% | 1,585 of 2,312 |
| Stockton | 9 months | 45% | 487 of 1,072 |
| Fresno | 9 months | 66% | 546 of 829 |
| Oakland | 8 months | 65% | 1,288 of 1,975 |
| San Francisco | 9 months | 46% | 792 of 1,722 |
| San Jose | 11 months | 63% | 484 of 767 |
| San Rafael | 9 months | 60% | 409 of 678 |
| Santa Barbara | 10 months | 71% | 482 of 681 |
| Los Angeles Downtown | 9 months | 69% | 863 of 1,250 |
| Los Angeles West | 9 months | 62% | 1,079 of 1,744 |
| Long Beach | 8.5 months | 54% | 959 of 1,761 |
| Norwalk | 9 months | 67% | 755 of 1,135 |
| Orange | 9 months | 58% | 1,036 of 1,774 |
| Pasadena | 9.5 months | 67% | 1,081 of 1,615 |
| San Bernardino | 9 months | 61% | 734 of 1,197 |
| Moreno Valley | 10 months | 52% | 640 of 1,229 |
| San Diego | 9 months | 56% | 967 of 1,728 |
Nationwide, judges approved 58% of the cases they decided in fiscal year 2026.
Where We Work in California
We have offices in Redding, San Mateo and San Jose, and we work with clients everywhere in the state by phone and text.
California Disability Questions
How long does a Social Security disability claim take in California?
Social Security says an initial decision generally takes 6 to 8 months. If you are denied and appeal, each level adds more time. In September 2026, the average wait for a hearing ranged from 8 to 11 months at the offices that serve California. Social Security Disability Insurance also has a five month waiting period before payments can begin. We keep your claim moving and tell you where it stands.
My disability claim was denied. What can I do?
A denial is not the end of your claim. You can appeal, and you generally have 60 days after you receive the decision to do it. The first appeal is called reconsideration. After that come a hearing with a judge, the Appeals Council, and federal court. In California, 35 of every 100 first applications were approved in fiscal year 2026, so a denial is common. Call or text (855) 772-6969 and we file the appeal with you.
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for people with a disability who worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for people with a disability, blindness, or age 65 or older who have little income and few resources. Some people qualify for both at the same time. We look at both when we review your claim.
Which hearing office will hear my California case?
Social Security has 17 hearing offices in California. Which office handles your case depends on the Social Security field office that serves your address. If your claim reaches a hearing, we prepare you for it and present your case to the judge.
What does it cost to hire Idiart Law Group?
The consultation is free, and you pay No Fee Until We Win. Call or text (855) 772-6969 to get started.
Do I have to come to an office?
No. We work with clients across California by phone and text. If you would rather meet, we have offices in Redding, San Mateo and San Jose.
Talk With Our California Disability Team
The consultation is free. You pay No Fee Until We Win.
Where the Numbers Come From
- Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2025 (released October 2026), Tables 8, 9 and 16 (December 2025). https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/di_asr/2025/sect01b.html
- Social Security Administration, State Agency Monthly Workload Data (SSA-SA-MOWL.csv), all initial claims and all reconsiderations, summed October 2025 through September 2026 (fiscal year 2026). https://www.ssa.gov/disability/data/ssa-sa-mowl.htm
- Social Security Administration, Average Wait Time Until Hearing Held Report (September 2026). https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/01_NetStat_Report.html
- Social Security Administration, ALJ Disposition Data, fiscal year 2026 (09-27-2025 through 09-25-2026). Awards divided by decisions, added up across the judges listed for each hearing office. Computed by us from SSA's table (fiscal year 2026). https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
- Social Security Administration, Hearing Office Locator (which hearing offices serve field offices in each state) (read November 2026). https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/ho_locator.html
These are statewide and office figures about past decisions. They do not predict the result of any one claim.