Independent and free. Sources opened on October 14, 2026. Never a law firm.
Money and time off work
State programs for pay while you cannot work, pay while you care for family, food benefits, and a disability savings account.
These are starting points in California. Confirm the details with the organization. We do not decide who qualifies.
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are federal. The official pages are on Newly disabled? Start here.
State agency
State Disability Insurance
Employment Development Department
EDD's Disability Insurance page is the front door for California's short-term disability pay for eligible workers. The page walks people through steps, starting with getting information in order and then applying. EDD decides claims. We do not.
Next step
On the EDD page, start with Step 1: Get Your Information in Order. Then use Step 2: Apply.
EDD's Paid Family Leave page is for eligible workers who need time off to care for a family member or to bond with a child. It lists its own steps, from getting information in order to applying and sending documents.
Next step
On the Paid Family Leave page, start with Step 1: Get Your Information in Order. Then use Step 2: Apply.
CDSS describes CalFresh as California's name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It helps people with low incomes buy food. Counties run cases. The amount depends on the household, and CDSS says to use the program rules rather than a guess.
Next step
Read the CDSS CalFresh page, then follow its path to your county. Do not rely on a summary for eligibility.
GetCalFresh, which calls itself an official State of California partner, says BenefitsCal is the state's site for applying and that you cannot apply on the GetCalFresh website. We opened the BenefitsCal homepage on the check date. It presented itself as BenefitsCal.
Next step
When you are ready to apply, go to BenefitsCal. GetCalFresh says that is the state application site.
CalABLE is California's ABLE savings plan. Its site says people can save for disability-related expenses and explains eligibility, including a change in the age when a disability started. Read the plan documents on their site before you open an account. This is not financial advice.
Next step
Read eligibility on the CalABLE site. If it matches your situation, use Open an Account there.
Disability Benefits 101 California explains work, Medi-Cal, SSI, and SSDI. The site is information. It does not decide a case. The copyright line says 2026 World Institute on Disability. The Get Expert Help box says to call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for SSI and SSDI. For how work affects SSI and SSDI, that box prints 1-800-776-5746 and names Disability Rights California. That number is the one on this page. The Ticket to Work Help Line it prints is 1-866-968-7842.
Next step
Open DB101 and use Get Expert Help. For SSI or SSDI, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.