San Francisco (San Francisco County) is home to many qualified Social Security Disability attorneys and advocates who are available to assist members of the community with the Social Security Disability application process. With the help of an attorney, an applicant can apply for disability benefits quickly and correctly.
The current number of pending cases in the San Francisco Hearing Office is 2,928 and the processing time is 347 days. For some individuals, waiting 347 days to have their disability claim processed, can seem impossible. However, once the wait is up, many San Francisco residents find that disability benefits are well worth the wait. Data collected in December 2011, reports that 16,885 individuals in San Francisco County received SSDI benefits and 45,469 individuals in San Fran Cisco County received SSI benefits.
To learn more about the different Social Security Disability program options click here.
If you are a resident of San Francisco and you can no longer work due to a disability, you can apply for disability benefits online or in person. To do so in person, make an appointment with your local Social Security Disability office. See below for an office close to you:
90 7th St
Annex, First Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
Telephone: 866-964-5051
Consulting with a San Francisco Social Security Disability Attorney
It may be in your best interest to retain the services of a qualified San Francisco Social Security Disability lawyer, especially if you are feeling confused or overwhelmed in any way. A lawyer will have a thorough understanding of the disability application process and can offer you guidance from start to finish.
If you would like to learn more about the different benefits of speaking to a lawyer, click here.
A San Francisco Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in San Francisco County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, San Joaquin County, Contra Costa County, Stanislaus County, and San Mateo County. Newark, Union City, Hayward, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Bruno, San Ramon, San Rafael, Stockton, Manteca, Modesto, San Jose, Daly City, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz, Mountain View, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, Alameda, San Mateo, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, and Concord. To find out more about attorneys and Social Security disability advocates in San Francisco County, contact the California State Bar Association at the address listed below:
California State Bar Association:
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
San Francisco Disability Hearings
Once you receive a decision on your initial application, you will be required to request an appeal hearing if your claim was not approved. This hearing will be held at the San Francisco Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).
Below you will find a list of administrative law judges (ALJs) that hear cases in the San Francisco Hearing Office. In the second column you will find each judges approval rate.
| ALJ | Approval Rate |
| Erickson, Robert M. | 50.35% |
| Harrell, Jr., Mason D. | 1.09% |
| Heyer, John | 41.67% |
| Lisewski, Nancy | 22.26% |
| Loo, Katherine | 7.47% |
| Lunsford, Lisa | 63.80% |
| Parnow, Mary P. | 38.57% |
| Stevens Bentley, Elizab | 58.02% |
*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
Typically, San Francisco Social Security Disability attorneys and advocates will be familiar with the judges who work in the San Francisco Hearing Office. Occasionally they will be able to use this insight to help you receive a favorable decision.
Often, scheduling a disability hearing can take quite a long time. If you find that you cannot wait a long time—due to medical or financial troubles—it may be in your best interest to request a congressional inquiry. To do this, you must reach out to your local congressperson and explain the circumstances surrounding your Social Security Disability application. He or she has the power speak with the ODAR on your behalf to expedite your claim. Your local congressperson can be reached at the following address:
Nancy Pelosi
90 7th Street, Suite 2-800
San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone: (415)556-4862
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
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