If you are a resident of Santa Barbara, California (Santa Barbara County) who cannot perform any type of work due to a disability, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Learn about the two disability programs, SSI and SSDI, here.
Applying for disability benefits can be tiresome. Fortunately, there are many qualified Social Security attorneys and advocates who can help you navigate the application process so that you can receive the assistance you need to maintain financial stability. In December 2011, the legal professionals from the Santa Barbara County area helped some of the 8,651 SSDI beneficiaries and the 9,642 SSI beneficiaries earn their benefits.
Santa Barbara disability claims are handled in the Santa Barbara hearing office. The current wait time in the Santa Barbara office has reached 339 days and there are 1,838 pending cases.
If you or a loved one has considered applying for disability benefits, you can begin the process online or in person at the following nearby Social Security field office:
355 Paseo Nuevo
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Telephone: 805-963-7806
Consulting with a Santa Barbara Social Security Disability Attorney
As previously mentioned, the application process for Social Security Disability benefits is not simple or easy. By contacting a qualified Santa Barbara attorney, you will be able to apply for benefits free of unnecessary stress and pressure.
Learn about the advantages of hiring a Santa Barbara attorney or advocate here.
A Santa Barbara disability attorney can also handle disability claims in the areas of Chatsworth, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Thousand Oaks and Ventura.
If you have additional questions about the legal options available to you, contact the following bar association:
Santa Barbara County Bar Association
15 West Carrillo St Suite 106
Santa Barbara CA 93101
Santa Barbara Disability Hearings
Unfortunately, many applicants are denied Social Security Disability benefits after the initial application. If you find that this happens to you, do not get discouraged. You will simply have to schedule an appeal hearing to be held in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ). This hearing will be held in the Santa Barbara Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).
Often, experienced attorneys will get to know the administrative law judges who hear cases in their local ODAR. The following table shows the Santa Barbara judges along with their respective approval rates. Your attorney can use this information to better prepare your disability hearing.
| ALJ | Approval Rate |
| Andeer, Kyle E. | 53.63% |
| Everstine, Mary L. | 31.65% |
| Fernandez, Laura | 8.96% |
| Koltys, Henry | 34.40% |
| Winkelman, Roger E. | 42.92% |
*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
It is not uncommon for applicants to experience money problems or health issues while they wait to present their case to an administrative law judge. If you find yourself in this situation, you can contact your local congressman to expedite your claim. He or she can get in touch with the Santa Barbara hearing office to inquire about your claim if he or she feels it is appropriate. Your local congressperson's address is listed below:
301 East Carrillo Street, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 730-1710
Fax: (805) 730-9153
For more on disability benefits in California, see How To Qualify For Disability In California.
For a free legal evaluation with a Santa Barbara Social Security advocate or attorney, complete the following form:
