If you’re applying for Social Security Disability benefits in San Francisco, you’ll have to prove to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that due to illness or injury, you’re unable to perform any job that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. If you’re a disabled San Francisco resident, the first step is to complete the application for benefits, which can be done at your local San Francisco Social Security office or over the telephone.
The application isn’t hard to complete, but getting approved may be more difficult than you anticipated. In fact, nationwide, over 70% of disability applications are denied. Although you do stand a greater chance of getting granted benefits at a later stage in the process, such as after your disability hearing, San Francisco disability applicants wait an average of 395 days for their hearing to be scheduled. Unfortunately, that’s just from the date when they requested a hearing, and not from their initial application date.
San Francisco Health Resources
It’s critical that you obtain regular medical treatment if you’re applying for disability in San Francisco. To determine if you’re disabled, the SSA will need to see objective medical evidence regarding the nature of your disabling condition and how they affect your ability to work. It’s very important that they have test results, doctor’s notes, progress reports, and other information from your medical file.
However, some San Francisco Social Security applicants may encounter problems obtaining the treatment which they need. If this is the case, you can contact one of these San Francisco resources for free or reduced-cost healthcare:
San Francisco Free Clinic
4900 California St.
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 750-9894
Integrated Care Center
1735 Mission Street at 13th
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 746-1941
Haight Clinic
558 Clayton St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 746-1950
St. Anthony Medical Clinic
150 Golden Gate Ave., 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 241-8320
Glide Health Services
330 Ellis Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 674-6140
Maxine Hall Health Center
1301 Pierce St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 292-1300
Mission Neighborhood Health Center
240 Shotwell Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 552-3870
San Francisco Mental Health Resources
If you’re applying for disability in San Francisco, and a psychiatric condition contributes to your inability to work, it’s important to be treated for these mental health conditions along with any physical impairments. The San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Community Behavioral Health Office can be contacted at (415) 255-3737. They provide San Francisco mental health resources and assistance.
San Francisco Supplementary Benefits
If you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) of Social Security Disability in San Francisco, it’s possible that you’re eligible for medical assistance through the state’s Medicaid program, called Med-Cal. For more information, call 1-877-597-4777 or visit the Department of Public Social Service’s website at www.sfhsa.org. San Francisco SSI recipients could also be eligible for an additional payment from the state. This could range from $120 to over $400, depending on your current living arrangements.
Your San Francisco Social Security Disability Claim
Unfortunately, many who apply for Social Security Disability in San Francisco do everything right but still have their claims denied. Hiring a qualified San Francisco Social Security Disability attorney can increase the chances that your application will be approved at the initial stage and you won’t be forced to endure the lengthy appeals process. They can also assist you with completing the application and any accompanying paperwork, communicate with the SSA regarding your claim status, and answer your questions along the way. If you do end up having a disability hearing, your San Francisco Social Security Disability attorney can prepare you for the judge’s questions and cross-examine any witnesses (such as the medical or vocational experts that the SSA sometimes hires.)
Fortunately, it doesn’t cost anything to hire a San Francisco Social Security lawyer. A San Francisco disability lawyer doesn’t receive a fee if you’re not awarded benefits. They’re only paid if your application is granted, in which case they’ll receive either 25% of your back benefits, or $6,000 (whichever is lesser.)
If you are interested in obtaining an evaluation of your Social Security Disability case, click the "Free Disability Evaluation" link at the top of the page for your free case evaluation or to get more information about retaining the services of a San Francisco social security lawyer.
