Address, phone & hours
Your local SSA service center
As your local Social Security service center, the Watts office manages a diverse group of 30,510 beneficiaries. With 4,810 disabled-worker recipients, the office maintains an SSDI share of 16%. Residents in ZIP codes like 90044 and 90003 rely on this location for $36 million in monthly benefits. Because this office serves a high volume of retirees, your disability application requires clear, documented evidence to stand out during the initial review process.
You can visit the Watts office to file your initial SSDI application, drop off required medical documentation, or verify your identity for benefit updates. Please note that this office does not make final disability determinations, which are handled by the state DDS. Additionally, any future hearings regarding your claim will be conducted at a separate Office of Hearings Operations location. We recommend scheduling an appointment in advance to minimize your wait time and ensure a representative is available to assist you.
Who this office serves
Beneficiaries in this service area receive an estimated $36,078k in Social Security benefits each month.
Before you visit
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and a detailed work history covering the last 15 years to your appointment. You should also provide a comprehensive list of all treating physicians, including their contact information and addresses, along with your most recent medical records and current medication list. If you have received any prior denial notices, bring those documents as well. Expect your interview with a claims representative to last between 45 and 90 minutes.
Avoid common delays by ensuring your work history is complete and that you have gathered all recent medical records from your primary care providers. Many applicants fail to mention mental health conditions or secondary physical impairments that are vital to your case. Never sign any Social Security forms without reading them thoroughly or understanding their impact on your claim. Providing incomplete information often leads to unnecessary follow-up requests and stalls your application.
Working while you apply? Check how much you can earn on SSDI this year — SSA's earnings limit is the first thing it looks at.
Was your claim denied? Decode the letter — what the sentence means, what to file, and by when.
Should you bring an attorney?
Applying for disability benefits is a complex legal process where the evidence you submit today forms the foundation of your entire case. Many people apply without professional guidance and only seek help after receiving a denial, which can make the appeals process much more difficult. An attorney can help you organize your medical evidence and ensure your application meets the specific requirements of the Social Security Administration. You can request a free case review to understand how your specific situation aligns with current disability regulations.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
If your SSDI claim moves to a hearing
About two-thirds of initial SSDI applications nationwide are denied. If yours is, your case moves to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge at one of the regional hearing offices that handles appeals from Watts. The Watts field office holds your file at every appeal stage, but the substantive decisions happen further up the chain.
Frequently asked questions
While you can visit the Watts office, we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment in advance. Appointments help ensure that a claims representative is available to assist you and can significantly reduce your wait time.
Yes, you can file your initial SSDI application online through the official Social Security website. However, you may still need to visit the Watts office to provide original documents or complete in-person identity verification.
If you miss your appointment, you should contact the office as soon as possible to reschedule. Missing an appointment can delay the processing of your application, so it is important to communicate any scheduling conflicts immediately.
You should bring your photo ID, a 15-year work history, a list of all treating doctors with their addresses, and your recent medical records. Having these items ready helps the claims representative process your application more efficiently.
An appointment at the Watts office typically lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. The duration depends on the complexity of your application and the amount of documentation you need to submit or review.