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Social Security Offices in California

Phone, address, reported hours, and directions for every Social Security Administration field office in California. 124 active locations across 107 cities.

Active offices

124

In the current public directory

Cities covered

107

Across California

No longer listed

0

Kept for historical reference

Total office pages

124

Active plus historical

Cities with the most California Social Security offices

These are the California cities with multiple Social Security field office listings. Larger cities tend to host a mix of downtown and satellite offices covering different ZIP codes and service areas.

Top cities in California by office count
Los Angeles 7 Fresno 3 Sacramento 3 San Francisco 3 San Jose 3 Bakersfield 2 Oakland 2 San Diego 2 Alhambra 1 Anaheim 1

Every Social Security office in California

Grouped by city. Click any office for the full address, phone, hours, directions, and services.

124 total pages

Applying for Social Security in California

Social Security benefits work the same way in California as they do in every other state. The rules are federal, and the dollar amount of your retirement, Social Security Disability (SSDI), survivor, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) check does not depend on where you live. What does change from state to state is how many field offices are open, how far apart they are, and how long the wait is for an in-person appointment.

California residents can file for retirement, disability, survivor, and Medicare benefits online at ssa.gov, by calling the national Social Security line at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or by visiting any of the 124 active field offices listed above. Most Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications still start with a phone or in-person appointment, so if you are filing for SSI, call the local office before you walk in to confirm how they want you to begin.

What to bring to a California Social Security office

  • Photo ID: California driver's license, state-issued ID, or U.S. passport.
  • Original or certified copy of your birth certificate or proof of U.S. citizenship.
  • Your Social Security number or Social Security card.
  • W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the most recent year (for new retirement or survivor claims).
  • Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit.
  • Any notice SSA has already mailed you about your case.
  • For disability applications: medical records, a list of providers, and a list of current medications.

Hours, appointments, and walk-ins at California offices

Most California Social Security offices open to the public Monday through Friday. Appointments are strongly preferred. You can book one by calling the specific office, the phone numbers are on each office page above, or by calling the national line. Walk-in visits are accepted at most offices, but expect longer waits on Mondays, the day after a federal holiday, and in the first week of the month when benefit payments arrive.

Federal holidays close every Social Security office in California (and across the country). Weather and staffing closures happen occasionally with little notice, so calling the morning of your visit is a good habit when you are driving more than half an hour.

When to call the California office vs. the national line

Call the local California office for anything specific to that branch: confirming hours, asking whether they handle a specific service, or booking an in-person appointment. Call the national Social Security line at 1-800-772-1213 for time-sensitive questions (a missing check, an appeal deadline, a hearing notice, a benefit verification letter), or anytime the local office phone is tied up and you just need an agent who can see your record.

California Social Security office FAQ

The questions California residents ask most about visiting a Social Security field office.

Looking for Social Security offices in a different state?

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