Los Angeles Social Security Lawyers

A serious health problem can make it hard or impossible to work. Medical bills, rent, and other expenses do not stop just because you are sick or injured. Social Security disability benefits can provide monthly support. However, to qualify, you must meet certain medical and financial requirements to qualify.

Our Los Angeles disability benefits lawyers represent disabled individuals pursuing Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. We handle claims from the initial application through reconsideration, hearings, Appeals Council review, and federal court when appropriate. Our team has represented thousands of Social Security claimants and has appeared before hundreds of Administrative Law Judges.

Call Key Disability at (310) 906-2556 or fill out our contact form to discuss your Social Security disability claim. We bring focused disability-claims experience, California-local knowledge, and a team approach to cases throughout Los Angeles and Southern California.

Social Security Disability Insurance provides benefits to eligible people with qualifying disabilities who have enough work history. The number of work credits required depends in part on the person’s age when the disability began. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits than older workers.

Supplemental Security Income uses financial eligibility rules in addition to disability requirements for applicants under age 65. Adults and children may qualify when they have little or no income and resources and meet the applicable disability or blindness requirements. SSI may also be available to qualifying people age 65 or older without a disability.

Some people qualify for both SSDI and SSI at the same time. Social Security refers to these as concurrent benefits, although applicants must independently satisfy the requirements of each program.

Social Security applies a specific federal standard when evaluating disability in adults. A claimant generally must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents substantial gainful activity and either continues for at least 12 continuous months or is expected to result in death. Social Security’s disability evaluation rules explain how SSA makes this determination.

Earnings can affect whether Social Security considers work substantial and gainful. In 2026, the Social Security Administration’s SGA amounts are $1,690 per month for nonblind individuals and $2,830 for statutorily blind individuals under the Social Security disability program. Different rules apply to self-employment. The higher blind SGA amount does not apply when determining initial SSI eligibility based on blindness.

A diagnosis alone is not enough to get disability benefits. Social Security needs medical proof of your condition and will look at how it affects your daily life and ability to work.

Social Security disability applications involve both medical and non-medical evidence. The exact information depends on the benefit program and the facts of the disability claim.

For SSDI, your work history and insurance status matter. For SSI, Social Security looks at your income and resources. You will also need to share details about your medical care, past jobs, education, and how your condition affects your ability to work.

Medical evidence can include treatment records, examination findings, test results, diagnoses, prescribed treatment, and information about functional limitations. Our legal team works with clients to develop the record and address issues involving physical impairments, mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and neurocognitive disorders.

A denial does not automatically end a disability claim. The Social Security appeals process has four levels: reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Council review, and federal district court review.

At reconsideration, a Disability Determination Services examiner reviews the request and original application. Social Security currently requires a request for disability reconsideration within 60 days of receiving the decision.

A claimant who disagrees with the reconsideration decision may request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Our lawyers prepare clients for hearings, review prior decisions, develop medical evidence, and address vocational issues that arise in the case.

Missing an appeal deadline can make it harder to keep your case going. Sometimes Social Security allows late appeals if you have a good reason. Therefore, it is important to review your notices and deadlines carefully.

Hearing-office assignments are based on the Social Security field-office service area for the claimant’s residence. Current SSA hearing-office information lists Los Angeles Downtown and Los Angeles West, as well as other offices serving Los Angeles County communities, including Norwalk and Pasadena.

At the hearing level, an Administrative Law Judge reviews the record and hears evidence concerning the disability claim. Social Security may also use vocational or medical witnesses to provide evidence when needed.

Our attorneys have appeared before hundreds of Administrative Law Judges. We use that hearing experience to prepare clients for testimony and develop the medical and vocational record without assuming that one claimant’s case will proceed like another.

A claimant who disagrees with an Administrative Law Judge’s decision may request Appeals Council review. The Social Security Administration requires the request within 60 days after the claimant receives the hearing decision.

The Appeals Council may deny the request for review. If it accepts review, it may issue a decision or return the case to an Administrative Law Judge for further proceedings.

After an unfavorable final administrative action, a claimant may seek judicial review in federal district court. SSA generally requires the civil action to be filed within 60 days of receiving the Appeals Council’s action.

Los Angeles County is part of the Western Division of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Social Security disability cases are among the federal civil matters handled by the Central District.

California also has its own Disability Insurance program. The Employment Development Department gives short-term wage replacement to workers who lose income because of illness, injury, pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, or certain types of rehab that are not work-related.

California Disability Insurance and federal Social Security disability benefits operate under separate eligibility systems. Our practice focuses on Social Security disability claims, including SSDI and SSI applications and appeals.

A Social Security claim can change as it moves from an initial application to an appeal or hearing. Our team handles initial applications, reconsideration, Administrative Law Judge hearings, Appeals Council review, and, when appropriate, federal court cases.

We have represented thousands of Social Security claimants and bring broad multistate disability experience to clients in Los Angeles. Our practice also includes focused experience with developmental disabilities and neurocognitive disorders.

We review records, identify evidentiary issues, prepare clients for hearings, and continue developing the claim when another stage of review requires further work. No outcome can ever be promised, but you can trust our team to work long hours in pursuing the most favorable outcome.

An initial application, denial, or upcoming disability hearing can involve deadlines and detailed medical evidence. Key Disability brings extensive Social Security disability experience and a full-team approach to Los Angeles disability claims.

Call (310) 906-2556 or fill out our contact form to discuss your SSDI or SSI claim with our Los Angeles Social Security lawyers.