Los Angeles SSI Claims Lawyer
Mayberry Law handles SSI applications and appeals with no fee unless you win.
Who qualifies for SSI in 2026?
SSI has two doors, and you must pass through both. The first is the same disability standard used for SSDI: a medically documented condition lasting at least 12 months that prevents substantial work. (Applicants 65 and older can qualify by age without proving disability.)
The second door is financial. Your countable resources must be under $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple — limits that haven't changed since 1989, though your home and usually one vehicle don't count. Your income also reduces or eliminates the benefit under SSA's counting rules, which exclude some earnings and are genuinely confusing. If SSA says your income or resources disqualify you, don't take that as final before someone who knows the exclusion rules reviews it.
You might qualify for substantial monthly benefits
Answer a few questions to assess the strength of your claim.
Takes about two minutes. No commitment. Informational only — not legal advice or a decision by Social Security.
How much does SSI pay in California?
The 2026 federal SSI payment standard is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple (Source: SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet). California adds a State Supplementary Payment on top of the federal amount, so a single aged or disabled California recipient living independently in their own household can receive $1,233.94 per month (Source: CDSS 2026 SSI Total Monthly Payment Amounts).
Just as important: in California, SSI eligibility comes with automatic Medi-Cal coverage — for many clients, the health coverage is worth as much as the check.
SSDI vs. SSI: which one applies to you?
| SSDI | SSI | |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Your work history and payroll taxes | Financial need |
| Work credits required | Yes | No |
| 2026 payment | Based on earnings record (avg. ~$1,630/mo) | Up to $994/mo federal + CA supplement |
| Health coverage | Medicare (after 24 months) | Medi-Cal (immediately, automatic in CA) |
| Resource limits | None | $2,000 individual / $3,000 couple |
| Waiting period | 5 months | None |
Many people qualify for both at once — a 'concurrent claim' — where a small SSDI benefit is topped up by SSI. When you apply, Social Security generally screens you for both programs, and your first contact sets a protective filing date for back-pay purposes. The catch is on the SSI side: financial eligibility is assessed in a quick screening, and because some assets don't count toward the limits, a claim can be screened out before a formal application — and the written denial and appeal rights that come with one — ever exists. The two programs also interact when you win: SSI can fill the five-month gap before SSDI payments begin and brings Medi-Cal during the two-year wait for Medicare. We look at both in every free case evaluation.
What if my SSI claim is denied?
SSI appeals follow the same four stages as SSDI — reconsideration, a hearing before an administrative law judge, Appeals Council review, and federal court — with the same 60-day deadline at each stage. Hearings for Los Angeles claimants are held through local SSA hearing offices, and the hearing stage is where the majority of successful appeals are won. Learn more about our Los Angeles disability services, review the SSDI claims page, or schedule your free case evaluation.
Why Choose Mayberry Law?
Father And
Son Team
Personal, responsive service from Brent and Quinn Mayberry.