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Disability benefits in California

In California, 1,107,180 people received SSI (average $832.12 a month) and 487,142 disabled workers received SSDI (average $1,674.30) as of December 2025.

Last updated: 2026-11-12 | Data periods: 2024-09-30 to 2026-11-12

Benefit amounts depend on eligibility, income, and living arrangements. Use the source links to check the applicable period.

Quick reference

LabelValueAs ofSource linkLast verified
Federal SSI maximum, individual (monthly)$994 2026-01-01ssa-ssi-state-list2026-11-12
Federal SSI maximum, couple (monthly)$1,491 2026-01-01ssa-ssi-state-list2026-11-12
Who pays the state SSI supplementSocial Security pays it 2026-01-01ssa-ssi-state-list2026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Aged: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$239.94 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$324.32 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$239.94 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: All: Non-medical out-of-home care (NMOHC) (state code B; federal living arrangement A: own household)$632.07 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Aged: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household)$368.81 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household)$368.81 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Disabled child under age 18 (state code E; federal living arrangement A: own household)$97.27 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Aged: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$245.20 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Blind: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$329.58 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$245.20 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: All: Non-medical out-of-home care living in the household of another (state code F; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$624.40 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Disabled child under 18 living in the home of another (state code G; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$102.53 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement C: parent's household (child))$324.32 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Disabled child under age 18 (state code E; federal living arrangement C: parent's household (child))$97.27 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Individual: All: Residents of Title XIX facilities (state code J; federal living arrangement D: Medicaid facility (federal rate limited to $30 / $60))$32 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Aged: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$607.83 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Blind/Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$833.35 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Disabled/Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$607.83 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$747.44 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$607.83 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Blind/Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household)$747.44 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: All: Non-medical out-of-home care (NMOHC) (state code B; federal living arrangement A: own household)$1,761.14 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Aged: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household)$865.57 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Disabled/Disabled: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household)$865.57 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Disabled: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household)$865.57 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Aged: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$615.70 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Blind/Blind: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$841.22 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Disabled/Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$615.70 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Blind: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$755.31 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Aged/Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$615.70 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: Blind/Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$755.31 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: All: Non-medical out-of-home care living in the household of another (state code F; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third))$1,604.20 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State supplement, Couple: All: Residents of Title XIX facilities (state code J; federal living arrangement D: Medicaid facility (federal rate limited to $30 / $60))$64 2026-01-01poms-si-01415-0582026-11-12
State-administered supplement amountsNo state-administered supplement 2026-01-01ssa-ssi-state-list2026-11-12
SSI recipients1,107,180 2025-12-31ssa-ssi-asr2026-11-12
Average monthly SSI payment$832.12 2025-12-31ssa-ssi-asr2026-11-12
Recipients of SSA-paid state supplementNot verified 2025-12-31ssa-ssi-asr2026-11-12
SSI recipients who are blind or disabled760,326 2025-12-31ssa-ssi-sc2026-11-12
SSI recipients under age 1886,198 2025-12-31ssa-ssi-asr2026-11-12
SSI recipients also receiving Social Security467,293 2025-12-31ssa-ssi-sc2026-11-12
SSDI disabled-worker beneficiaries487,142 2025-12-31ssa-oasdi-sc2026-11-12
Total monthly SSDI benefits to disabled workers$815,621,000 2025-12-31ssa-oasdi-sc2026-11-12
Average monthly SSDI benefit (disabled workers)$1,674.30 Estimate ssdi.totalMonthlyBenefits / ssdi.disabledWorkerBeneficiaries2025-12-31ssa-oasdi-sc2026-11-12
Spouses and children receiving SSDI family benefits66,039 Estimate Table 2 Disability Spouses + Disability Children2025-12-31ssa-oasdi-sc2026-11-12
Initial disability claims received (12 months)212,459 Estimate Sum of monthly Receipts (All Initial), FY20262026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
Initial disability decisions (12 months)195,142 Estimate Sum of monthly Determinations (All Initial), FY20262026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
Initial claims approved (12 months)67,943 Estimate Sum of monthly Allowances (All Initial), FY20262026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
Initial approval rate (12 months)34.8% Estimate dds.favorableDeterminations / dds.determinations x 100 (initial claims, FY2026)2026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
Reconsideration approval rate (12 months)15.2% Estimate Sum of Allowances (All Recon) / Sum of Determinations (All Recon) x 100, FY20262026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
Initial claims pending81,316 2026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
Backlog estimate (months of work)5 months Estimate dds.pending / (dds.determinations / 12): months of backlog at the FY2026 pace. Not an official processing time.2026-09-25ssa-mowl2026-11-12
State short-term disability or paid medical leave programYes 2026-11-12dol-wb-paid-leave2026-11-12
Program nameState Disability Insurance (SDI) - Disability Insurance 2026-01-01ca-edd-sdi2026-11-12
Maximum weekly benefit$1,765 2026-01-01ca-edd-sdi2026-11-12
Maximum durationUp to 52 weeks 2026-01-01ca-edd-sdi2026-11-12
Waiting periodNot verified 2026-01-01ca-edd-sdi2026-11-12
Payroll contribution1.3% of all wages, employee-paid (no wage ceiling) 2026-01-01ca-edd-sdi2026-11-12
Program websitehttps://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/ 2026-11-12ca-edd-sdi2026-11-12
Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilitiesYes 2026-01-01kff-medicaid-buyin2026-11-12
Buy-in income limit$3,325 per month (individual) 2026-01-01kff-medicaid-buyin2026-11-12
Buy-in asset limit$130,000 (individual) 2026-01-01kff-medicaid-buyin2026-11-12
Buy-in premiumsNot verified 2026-01-01kff-medicaid-buyin2026-11-12
Disability prevalence (Census ACS)Not verified 2024-12-31census-acs-s18102026-11-12
FY2024 favorable determination rate, all claims39.01% 2024-09-30ssa-fywl2026-11-12
FY2024 adult favorable determination rate35.23% 2024-09-30ssa-fywl2026-11-12
FY2024 SSI child allowance rate62.8% 2024-09-30ssa-fywl2026-11-12
Share of adults 18-64 receiving SSA disability benefits (FY2024)3.47% 2024-09-30ssa-fywl2026-11-12

Sourced facts

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

  • Federal SSI maximum, individual (monthly): $994 [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Federal SSI maximum, couple (monthly): $1,491 [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Who pays the state SSI supplement: Social Security pays it [3] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Aged: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $239.94 [4] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $324.32 [5] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $239.94 [6] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: All: Non-medical out-of-home care (NMOHC) (state code B; federal living arrangement A: own household): $632.07 [7] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Aged: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household): $368.81 [8] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household): $368.81 [9] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Disabled child under age 18 (state code E; federal living arrangement A: own household): $97.27 [10] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Aged: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $245.20 [11] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Blind: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $329.58 [12] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $245.20 [13] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: All: Non-medical out-of-home care living in the household of another (state code F; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $624.40 [14] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Disabled child under 18 living in the home of another (state code G; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $102.53 [15] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement C: parent's household (child)): $324.32 [16] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: Disabled: Disabled child under age 18 (state code E; federal living arrangement C: parent's household (child)): $97.27 [17] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Individual: All: Residents of Title XIX facilities (state code J; federal living arrangement D: Medicaid facility (federal rate limited to $30 / $60)): $32 [18] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Aged: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $607.83 [19] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Blind/Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $833.35 [20] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Disabled/Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $607.83 [21] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Blind: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $747.44 [22] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $607.83 [23] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Blind/Disabled: Independent living with cooking facilities (state code A; federal living arrangement A: own household): $747.44 [24] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: All: Non-medical out-of-home care (NMOHC) (state code B; federal living arrangement A: own household): $1,761.14 [25] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Aged: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household): $865.57 [26] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Disabled/Disabled: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household): $865.57 [27] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Disabled: Independent living without cooking facilities (state code C; federal living arrangement A: own household): $865.57 [28] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Aged: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $615.70 [29] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Blind/Blind: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $841.22 [30] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Disabled/Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $615.70 [31] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Blind: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $755.31 [32] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Aged/Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $615.70 [33] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: Blind/Disabled: Living in the household of another (state code D; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $755.31 [34] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: All: Non-medical out-of-home care living in the household of another (state code F; federal living arrangement B: another person's household (federal rate reduced by one-third)): $1,604.20 [35] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State supplement, Couple: All: Residents of Title XIX facilities (state code J; federal living arrangement D: Medicaid facility (federal rate limited to $30 / $60)): $64 [36] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • State-administered supplement amounts: No state-administered supplement [37] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • SSI recipients: 1,107,180 [38] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Average monthly SSI payment: $832.12 [39] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement: Not verified [40] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • SSI recipients who are blind or disabled: 760,326 [41] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • SSI recipients under age 18: 86,198 [42] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • SSI recipients also receiving Social Security: 467,293 [43] Last verified 2026-11-12

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

  • SSDI disabled-worker beneficiaries: 487,142 [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Total monthly SSDI benefits to disabled workers: $815,621,000 [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Average monthly SSDI benefit (disabled workers): $1,674.30 Estimate ssdi.totalMonthlyBenefits / ssdi.disabledWorkerBeneficiaries[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Spouses and children receiving SSDI family benefits: 66,039 Estimate Table 2 Disability Spouses + Disability Children[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Disability decisions, last 12 months

  • Initial disability claims received (12 months): 212,459 Estimate Sum of monthly Receipts (All Initial), FY2026[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Initial disability decisions (12 months): 195,142 Estimate Sum of monthly Determinations (All Initial), FY2026[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Initial claims approved (12 months): 67,943 Estimate Sum of monthly Allowances (All Initial), FY2026[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Initial approval rate (12 months): 34.8% Estimate dds.favorableDeterminations / dds.determinations x 100 (initial claims, FY2026)[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Reconsideration approval rate (12 months): 15.2% Estimate Sum of Allowances (All Recon) / Sum of Determinations (All Recon) x 100, FY2026[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Initial claims pending: 81,316 [6] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Backlog estimate (months of work): 5 months Estimate dds.pending / (dds.determinations / 12): months of backlog at the FY2026 pace. Not an official processing time.[7] Last verified 2026-11-12

State short-term disability / paid medical leave

  • State short-term disability or paid medical leave program: Yes [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Program name: State Disability Insurance (SDI) - Disability Insurance [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Maximum weekly benefit: $1,765 [3] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Maximum duration: Up to 52 weeks [4] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Waiting period: Not verified [5] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Payroll contribution: 1.3% of all wages, employee-paid (no wage ceiling) [6] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Program website: https://edd.ca.gov/en/disability/ [7] Last verified 2026-11-12

Medicaid buy-in

  • Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities: Yes [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Buy-in income limit: $3,325 per month (individual) [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Buy-in asset limit: $130,000 (individual) [3] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Buy-in premiums: Not verified [4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Population

  • Disability prevalence (Census ACS): Not verified [1] Last verified 2026-11-12

Disability decisions, fiscal year 2024

  • FY2024 favorable determination rate, all claims: 39.01% [1] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • FY2024 adult favorable determination rate: 35.23% [2] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • FY2024 SSI child allowance rate: 62.8% [3] Last verified 2026-11-12
  • Share of adults 18-64 receiving SSA disability benefits (FY2024): 3.47% [4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Conflicts and unverified data

Disability Determination Services agency: not verified. Not yet verified against the state DDS directory.

DDS website: not verified. Not yet verified against the state DDS directory.

Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement: not verified. Not yet mapped from the SSI Annual Statistical Report.

Waiting period: not verified. Not yet verified against the program agency.

Buy-in premiums: not published. No premium reported.

Disability prevalence (Census ACS): not verified. The Census data API now requires a key; not yet ingested.

Frequently asked questions

How much is SSI in California in 2026?

The federal SSI maximum is $994 per month for one person and $1,491 for a couple. California also pays a state supplement through Social Security for some living arrangements, listed in the table on this page. From January of next year the federal maximum rises to $1,029.

What is the average SSI payment in California?

In December of last year, 1,107,180 people in California received SSI, and the average federally administered payment was $832.12 per month.

What is the SSDI approval rate in California?

In federal fiscal year ending this September, California's disability determination agency approved 34.8% of the initial disability claims it decided and 15.2% of reconsiderations. These rates cover SSDI and SSI disability claims together.

How long does a disability decision take in California?

Social Security does not publish an average initial decision time by state. California had 81,316 initial claims pending, which at the recent pace is roughly 5 months months of work. Treat this as an estimate.

What is the average SSDI payment in California?

487,142 disabled workers in California received Social Security disability benefits, averaging about $1,674.30 per month in December of last year.

Does California have state short-term disability?

Yes. California has State Disability Insurance (SDI) - Disability Insurance, which pays up to $1,765 per week to eligible workers who cannot work because of their own serious health condition. Duration: Up to 52 weeks.

Can I keep Medicaid while working with a disability in California?

Yes. California has a Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities. Income limit: $3,325 per month (individual).

How to apply

Review eligibility and apply directly through the responsible agency.