Plano Social Security Disability Lawyer

How Can a Plano SSDI Lawyer Help With a Disability Claim?

A Plano SSDI lawyer can help at each stage of a claim, from the first application through a federal court appeal. That help can include gathering medical records, completing SSA forms, responding to SSA requests for information, preparing you for a hearing, and filing appeals on time.

You do not have to hire a lawyer to apply for SSDI. SSA allows you to have a representative at any stage, and many people bring one in after a denial.

The Plano office serves people in Plano and surrounding communities, from Downtown Plano and Haggard Park to Willow Bend and Deerfield. Spanish language support is available when needed.

What Is SSDI?

SSDI is a federal program that pays monthly benefits to workers who cannot work because of a long-term medical condition. Social Security payroll taxes fund SSDI, so eligibility depends on your work history. SSDI is different from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a separate program in which eligibility is based on financial need.

Who Can Qualify for SSDI?

To qualify for SSDI, you generally need (1) enough work credits, (2) a medical condition that meets SSA’s definition of disability, and (3) earnings below SSA’s monthly limit for substantial gainful activity (SGA). SSA also considers whether you can still do your past work or other work, based on your age, education, and work history.

Work credits: You earn up to four credits per year. In 2026, one credit requires $1,890 in covered earnings, so $7,560 earns all four. Workers age 31 or older generally need 20 credits earned in the 10 years before the disability began. Younger workers need fewer credits.
Disability: Your medical condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months (Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 404.1505(a)), or be expected to result in death. It must keep you from doing substantial gainful activity (Title 42 of the United States Code (U.S.C.). § 423(d)(1)(A)).
Earnings limit: In 2026, SSA generally treats earnings above $1,690 per month as substantial gainful activity. For people who are statutorily blind, the amount is $2,830 per month.

What Medical Conditions Does SSA Consider?

SSA considers many kinds of conditions, but it decides a claim based on how the condition limits your ability to work, not on the diagnosis alone. Examples include back and joint problems, heart disease, cancer, nervous system disorders like multiple sclerosis, mental health conditions like severe depression, lung disease, diabetes complications, autoimmune disorders like lupus, vision and hearing loss, and chronic pain conditions.

SSA publishes a guide called the Listing of Impairments (often called the Blue Book) that describes the medical findings it looks for in each body system. A condition that is not in the Blue Book can still be considered.

How Does the SSDI Application Process Work in Plano?

The SSDI process starts with an application to SSA. The claim then moves through a medical review by a Texas state agency and ends in a written decision. If SSA denies the claim, you can appeal.

Step 1: File Your Application With SSA

You can apply online at ssa.gov, by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a Social Security field office. The application asks about your medical conditions, treatment providers, medications, work history, and how your condition affects daily activities.

Step 2: SSA and Texas DDS Review Your Claim

SSA first checks your work credits and earnings. If you meet those requirements, the claim goes to Texas Disability Determination Services (DDS), the state agency that makes the medical decision for SSA. DDS may request records from your providers or ask you to attend a consultative exam. SSA arranges and pays for that exam.

Step 3: Receive a Written Decision

SSA sends a written notice of its decision. An approval notice states the benefit amount and the date benefits begin. A denial notice explains SSA’s reasons and how to appeal. Common reasons for denial of a claim include missing medical evidence, earnings above the SGA limit, and too few work credits. You can read more in our article on common reasons SSDI claims are denied.

How Long Do You Have to Appeal an SSDI Denial in Texas?

You generally have 60 days to appeal an SSDI denial, and the same 60-day period applies at each level of appeal. The 60 days start the day after you receive the notice, and SSA presumes you received it 5 days after the date printed on it, unless you can show you got it later. For example, for a notice dated March 1, SSA presumes receipt on March 6, and the 60 days generally run through May 5. If the last day falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next workday.

There are four levels of appeal:

Reconsideration: You ask SSA to review the denial. A different DDS reviewer looks at the claim again, along with any new evidence you submit. The request is due within 60 days of the initial denial notice.
Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): If you receive another denial after reconsideration, you can request a hearing within 60 days of that notice. At the hearing, you can testify, submit evidence, and answer the judge's questions. The judge may also hear from a medical or vocational witness.
Appeals Council review: If the ALJ denies the claim, you can ask SSA's Appeals Council to review the decision within 60 days. The Council may decide the case, send it back to the ALJ, or deny review.
Federal court: If the Appeals Council denies review or upholds the denial, you can file a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court within 60 days of receiving that notice.

If you miss a deadline, SSA may extend it for good cause. You must ask in writing and explain the reason for the delay. You also have the option of filing a new application instead of appealing. That choice can affect how far back your benefits may reach, so it is worth understanding before you decide.

There is no fixed deadline to apply for SSDI, but waiting can be costly. Benefits can be paid for no more than 12 months before the month you apply, so a late application can permanently reduce back pay. Also, SSDI coverage generally runs out about five years after you stop working. If you apply after that date, you must prove your disability began before it, which can be harder as time passes.

What Benefits Come With SSDI?

The core SSDI benefit is a monthly cash payment. The amount is based on your average lifetime earnings covered by Social Security, not on how severe your disability is or on your other income or assets. The estimated average monthly SSDI payment for a disabled worker in 2026 is $1,630, according to the SSA’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet. You can see your own estimate by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Payments generally continue as long as you remain disabled, and at full retirement age they convert to retirement benefits in the same amount.

SSDI can also include back pay for the time your claim was pending. The program has a five-month waiting period, and benefits are generally paid starting with the sixth full month of disability. If SSA approves a claim after you have been waiting, you may receive back pay for eligible months, including up to 12 months before your application date.

You generally become eligible for Medicare after receiving SSDI for 24 months, no matter your age. SSA also adjusts SSDI benefits each year for the cost of living, and the increase for 2026 was 2.8%.

Some family members, such as a spouse, minor children, or an adult child disabled before age 22, may qualify for payments based on your record. Total family payments are subject to a family maximum.

How Do Attorney Fees Work in an SSDI Case?

Bailey & Galyen offers a free consultation, and you do not pay attorney fees unless benefits are awarded. In most SSDI cases, SSA sets the limit on the fee. Under SSA’s fee agreement process, the fee generally cannot exceed the lesser of 25% of your past-due benefits or a dollar cap set by SSA. SSA typically pays the fee directly from your back pay. If your claim is approved, you may also be responsible for reasonable case expenses, as explained in your client agreement. If your claim is denied, you owe neither a fee nor expenses.

Talk With Bailey & Galyen About Your Plano SSDI Claim

Applying for or appealing an SSDI claim while dealing with a serious health condition is a lot to manage. The Plano office of Bailey & Galyen can review your situation, explain the process, and help you understand which deadlines apply to your claim. We cannot promise a result, but we can help you understand your options.

Call the Plano office at (972) 398-2610 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. The office is located at 660 N Central Expy, Suite 290, Plano, TX 75074.

Plano SSDI Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, some people with disabilities receive both. SSDI eligibility depends on work history, and SSI eligibility depends on having income and resources below certain limits. If your SSDI payment is low, you may also qualify for SSI. SSA reviews each program’s rules separately.

Yes, SSA considers mental health conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. The Blue Book includes a section on mental disorders. As with physical conditions, SSA looks at how the condition limits your ability to work, and treatment records matter.

You may still be able to appeal if you show good cause for the delay, such as a serious illness, a language barrier, or not receiving the notice. You must ask in writing and explain the reason. SSA reviews each request individually, and there’s no guarantee it will grant an extension.