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California Disability Determination Services (DDS)

Disability claims in California are decided by the Disability Determination Service Division, part of the Department of Social Services. SSA lists 916-285-8900 (Professional relations / consultative exams). Main office: PO Box 997119, Sacramento, CA 95899-7119. The DDS decides your initial claim and your reconsideration; if both are denied, the next step is a hearing before a judge.

Contact the California DDS

PurposePhone
Professional relations / consultative exams916-285-8900
Professional relations / consultative exams559-297-2610
Professional relations / consultative exams(626) 732-8100
Professional relations / consultative exams(818) 550-4200
Professional relations / consultative exams619-278-4550
Professional relations / consultative exams310-615-2800
Professional relations / consultative exams510-622-3506
Professional relations / consultative exams858-674-3300
Professional relations / consultative exams916-774-4100
Professional relations / consultative exams916-515-4400
Professional relations / consultative exams619-278-4300
Professional relations / consultative exams559-297-2500
Professional relations / consultative exams209-472-2391

Office locations

OfficeAddress
Central Support Services BranchPO Box 997119, Sacramento, CA 95899-7119
916-285-8900
Central Valley BranchP.O. Box 3045, Clovis, CA 93613-3045
559-297-2610
Covina BranchP.O. Box 6118, Covina, CA 91722-6118
(626) 732-8100
Glendale BranchP.O. Box 29002, Glendale, CA 91209-9002
(818) 550-4200
La Jolla BranchP.O. Box 85501, San Diego, CA 92186-5501
619-278-4550
Los Angeles BranchP.O. Box 992, El Segundo, CA 90245-0992
310-615-2800
Oakland BranchP.O. Box 24225, Oakland, CA 94623-1225
510-622-3506
Rancho Bernardo BranchP.O. Box 509135, San Diego, CA 92150
858-674-3300
Roseville BranchP.O. Box 619020, Roseville, CA 95661-9020
916-774-4100
Sacramento BranchP.O. Box 997121, Sacramento, CA 95899-7120
916-515-4400
San Diego BranchP.O. Box 85273, San Diego, CA 92186-9516
619-278-4300
Sierra BranchP.O. Box 3060, Clovis, CA 93613-9920
559-297-2500
Stockton BranchP.O. Box 207015, Stockton, CA 95267-9515
209-472-2391

SSA publishes these DDS contacts for medical professionals and consultative examinations. If you have a claim in process, call the number printed on the letters the DDS sent you, or SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

What the DDS does in your claim

  1. Your Social Security field office takes the application and sends the medical part to the California DDS.
  2. A disability examiner requests your records from the doctors and hospitals you listed.
  3. If the records are not enough, the DDS can schedule a consultative examination with an independent doctor, paid by the program. Missing it without a good reason can lead to a denial.
  4. A medical or psychological consultant reviews the file and the DDS issues the decision.
  5. If you are denied, you have 60 days to request reconsideration, a complete review by someone at the DDS who did not take part in the first decision.

After the DDS: hearing offices in California

If reconsideration is also denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. These are the SSA hearing offices in California:

Frequently asked questions

What is the phone number for California Disability Determination Services?

SSA lists 916-285-8900 (Professional relations / consultative exams) for the Disability Determination Service Division. If you have a claim in process, the fastest route is the phone number printed on the DDS letters you received, or SSA at 1-800-772-1213.

Where is the California DDS office?

Central Support Services Branch: PO Box 997119, Sacramento, CA 95899-7119.

What does the DDS do?

The Disability Determination Service Division is the California state agency that decides, for the Social Security Administration, whether you are medically disabled at the initial application and at reconsideration. It gathers your medical records and may schedule a consultative exam.

What if the DDS denies my claim?

You can ask for reconsideration within 60 days. If it is denied again, you can request a hearing before a judge at a hearing office in California.

Sources: www.ssa.gov