Pages for this state
- Medicaid in California after an SSI decision SSI comes with a state payment called SSP.
SSI, SSDI, and childhood disability benefits are federal programs. The rules for Medicaid after SSI are on the state page above. How the three programs differ.
Free civil legal aid
LawHelpCA (opens in a new tab)
California's official free legal aid directory. Search by county and topic. What this step unlocks: a pre-screened free or low-cost legal aid office near your loved one.
Bay Area Legal Aid (opens in a new tab)
Free civil legal advice for people with low income in the Bay Area. What this step unlocks: free civil legal advice for people with low income.
State Bar funded offices in the Bay Area also include East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley in San Jose, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, Legal Aid of Marin, and Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County.
Disability Rights California (opens in a new tab)
Rights in a hospital, a hold, or CARE Court. What this step unlocks: disability rights help and self-advocacy guides.
State Bar of California (opens in a new tab)
A directory of free legal help.
How to file a CARE petition (opens in a new tab)
A parent, spouse, sibling, child, grandparent, or someone who lives with your loved one can ask a court to start a care plan. It is for adults with schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. File where your loved one lives, is staying, or has a court case.
CARE-100 petition form (opens in a new tab)
The petition form. Also have form CARE-101, or proof of 2 intensive-treatment holds, the latest within 60 days.
San Francisco Self-Help CARE (opens in a new tab)
San Francisco CARE petitions are filed at Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Civil Clerk's Office, Room 103, Window 27.
Help with SSI and SSDI appeals
Social Security (opens in a new tab)
You have 60 days from the day you receive the notice to appeal. Social Security assumes you got it 5 days after the date printed on the letter, so mark that date on your calendar today.
Ask for reconsideration online, or call Social Security. Ask a free legal aid office for help with the appeal. In California, SSI comes with a state payment called SSP (State Supplementary Payment). If your loved one qualifies for SSI, they qualify for SSP.
Jail reentry and mental health courts
Mental health diversion (opens in a new tab)
Ask the defense lawyer about mental health diversion. A judge can pause a case for treatment.
San Francisco Collaborative Courts (opens in a new tab)
San Francisco Superior Court lists a Behavioral Health Court and Mental Health Diversion under Collaborative Courts.
Sharing medication information (opens in a new tab)
Share the medication list and the doctor's name with the jail's medical staff. You can always share information with clinicians.
Other state pages
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- CA Courts: File CARE petition (opens in a new tab)
- CA Courts: CARE-100 form (opens in a new tab)
- SF Court: Self-Help CARE (opens in a new tab)
- SF Court: Collaborative courts (opens in a new tab)
- State Bar: Free legal help (opens in a new tab)
- LawHelpCA: Find legal help (opens in a new tab)
- BayLegal: Legal advice line (opens in a new tab)
- DRC: Get help (opens in a new tab)
- SSA: Appeal a decision (opens in a new tab)
- CDSS: SSI/SSP (opens in a new tab)
- CA law: Mental health diversion (opens in a new tab)
- HHS: HIPAA FAQ 2095 (opens in a new tab)