Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/431369
The People's Guide 2015 26 SSI & CAPI Where to Apply for Social Security or SSI For SSI, Medicare and Social Security benefits, it is best to apply in person at one of the Social Security offices listed below (L.A. area). For appointments and information about Social Security, Medicare or SSI, call toll-free: (800) 772-1213, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. during the week. The TTY Number for hearing impaired is (800) 325-0778. When you call the 800 number you are talking to someone in a national call center, not someone in your local office. Alhambra, 900 S. Garfield, Ste. 102 Boyle Heights, 215 N. Soto St. Burbank, 1420 W. Olive Chatsworth, 20439 Nordhoff St Compton, 171 E. Compton Blvd. Crenshaw, 3840 Crenshaw Blvd. El Monte, 9351 Flair Dr. Glendale, 225 W Broadway Ste. 600 Glendora, 1165 E Route 66 Hollywood, 1122 N Vine St. Huntington Park, 6303 Rugby Ave. Inglewood, 230 E. Spruce Ave. Lakewood, 4957 Paramount Blvd. Lancaster, 44451 N 20th St W Long Beach, 2005 Long Beach Blvd LA-Wilshire Center 4000 Wilshire Blvd Montebello, 2216 W. Beverly Blvd. Norwalk, 12440 E Imperial Hwy Panorama City 14500 Roscoe Blvd Pasadena, 104 N. Mentor Pomona, 960 W Mission Blvd San Fernando, 456 San Fernando Mis- sion Blvd. Santa Clarita, 27200 Tourney Rd. Ste 320 Torrance,22600 Crenshaw Blvd. University Village, 1122 W Washington Blvd. Suite 201 Watts, 12429 S Avalon Blvd West Covina, 501 S. Vincent Ave Westwood, 11500 W Olympic Blvd Whittier, 7200 Greenleaf Ave. Ste. 200 If are applying for Social Security or SSI Disability, your case will be sent to a state agency under contract with SSA to collect your medical records and decide whether you meet the medical requirements for disability benefits. In general, people who are blind or have very obvious disabilities which preclude them from working are approved more quickly than those who must have their disabilities more extensively verified. In limited circumstances you may qualify for presumptive disability and start to receive benefits even before the final disability determination is made. What Are My Rights? Current and past medical records need to be obtained in all cases where disability is an issue. In many cases, you will be given an appointment for a doctor chosen by the state to examine you. These consultative exams are brief and will generally not prove your disability. It is important that you get your medical records from existing and previous doctors which show that you are disabled. Do not rely on the state disability evaulaiton agency to get all your records. If the state disability evaluation unit decides that you are not disabled enough to get SSI, you can appeal. Those who appeal a decision that they are "not disabled enough" by request- ing a reconsideration and then a hearing before an administrative law judge often win and are able to receive benefits back to the date of application. (See page 66 Hearings and Complaints.) You can apply for General Relief while you wait for SSI approval. If you ask, the county will help you get SSI while you are on General Relief . If you have worked in the last year and a half, you should apply for state disability benefits. After receiving benefits if you get a notice that you have been overpaid, and you believe it is not your fault, insist on immediately submitting a "Request for Waiver of Overpayment." If you do not believe you were overpaid, you should request a reconsideration. If you believe the amount of your SSI check is incorrect or any notice that you get is wrong, insist on immediately sub- mitting a "Request for Reconsideration" (See page 66 "Hearings & Complaints"). Also, most Congressional district of- fices have case workers who deal with Social Security problems. Call your Congress person's office and ask for help or make a complaint. What Is CAPI? Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants ("CAPI") is a cash benefit program for low-income people who are aged 65 and older, are blind, or who have a disability that meet the general eligibility require- ments for SSI but are not eligible for SSI because of their immigration status (See pg. 63 "Which Immigrants can get CAPI?") CAPI benefit amounts are similar to SSI ($10 less for one person, $20 less for a couple). Like SSI, benefits are lower if you share housing or don't pay your full share of the food and shelter expenses. If you are eligible for CAPI you will be eligible for Medi-Cal, and In Home Sup- portive Services (IHSS) and in most cases will be eligible for CalFresh/Food Stamps (see pg. 32) but you will have to apply for these benefits separately. See pg. 65 "What If I Have a Sponsor" for important information about "deeming". 1. How to Apply To apply for CAPI, go to the Wilshire Special DPSS Office or any office that handles GR (see page 70) or call (877) 481-1044 to file an application over the phone. You must apply for SSI as a require- ment of CAPI eligibility. You will have to show proof that you have applied for SSI and your SSI application is on a pending status OR has been denied due to your immigration status. You may apply for SSI on your own or you can ask for help from the County worker. Your benefits will begin the month after you apply for, or try to apply for CAPI. So you should apply to CAPI as soon as possible. Be sure to get a written receipt with a date showing that you applied or tried to apply for SSI. At the time you apply for CAPI, you will choose between two methods of receiving your monthly benefits, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) or direct deposit. 2. Be Careful: Brokers If you are applying for CAPI you do not need to pay anyone to help you fill out the application and turn it in to the county (these individuals are often called "bro- kers"). DPSS workers are required to help you fill out your application, and provide you with a county worker who speaks your language to help you fill out the papers. You can also get help from a non-profit community organization, which will not charge you to help you apply.