Texas Social Security Disability Lawyer
If a medical condition has kept you out of work for a year or more, a Texas Social Security Disability lawyer from Michalk, Beatty & Alcozer, L.P. can help you get the benefits you've earned. Our firm is based in Killeen, and we represent clients filing for or appealing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) throughout Central Texas and across the state. Attorney Manuel Alcozer is board-certified in Social Security Disability Advocacy, a credential fewer than 60 attorneys nationwide hold, and that certification shapes how our whole firm builds every disability claim.
The Social Security Administration denies most first-time applications, often for reasons that have nothing to do with whether you're actually disabled. Understanding how the SSA actually evaluates a claim, and building the medical record it demands, is the difference between an approval and a denial letter that takes a year to appeal.
Texas Social Security Disability Law: SSDI and SSI Explained
Social Security runs two different disability programs, and which one applies to you depends on your work history and your finances, not how severe your condition is.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is an earned benefit. You pay into it through payroll taxes, and in 2026 you earn one work credit for every $1,890 in wages, up to four credits a year. Most adults need 40 credits total, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before you became disabled, to qualify. Younger workers can qualify with fewer credits. Your monthly SSDI payment is based on your own earnings record, not a flat government number, so someone who worked steady overtime for 20 years draws more than someone who worked part-time.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) doesn't require a work history at all. It's a needs-based program for people with limited income and resources, and in 2026 it pays up to $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 a month for a couple. To qualify financially, you can't have more than $2,000 in countable resources as an individual or $3,000 as a couple. Some Texas clients qualify for both SSDI and SSI at the same time, called a concurrent claim, when their SSDI payment is low enough to still meet SSI's income limits.
Both programs use the same medical standard for disability and the same five-step process to decide your claim. The financial rules are what set them apart.
What Makes Our Texas Social Security Disability Attorney Different
Most firms hand your disability case to whoever has room on their calendar, and the person who signs your paperwork often isn't the person who argues your case at a hearing. Ours doesn't work that way.
Attorney Manuel Alcozer is board-certified in Social Security Disability Advocacy, a credential fewer than 60 attorneys nationwide hold. That certification requires deep, tested knowledge of how the SSA actually evaluates a claim, not just a general familiarity with the application process. Manuel leads every Social Security Disability case our firm takes on, from the first filing through an Administrative Law Judge hearing if your claim needs one.
That certification matters most when a case turns on residual functional capacity, meaning what you can still physically and mentally do despite your condition. A doctor's note saying you "can't lift heavy objects" isn't enough on its own, and Manuel knows how to build the specific kind of medical record the SSA's own rules require.
The Five-Step Process the SSA Uses to Decide Your Claim
The SSA doesn't just look at your diagnosis. It walks every claim through five questions, in order, and stops as soon as it has an answer.
Step one asks whether you're currently working above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level. In 2026, that threshold is $1,690 a month for most claimants and $2,830 a month if you're blind. Earn more than that, and the SSA denies your claim at this step regardless of your medical condition.
Step two asks whether your condition is severe, meaning it significantly limits your ability to do basic work activities like standing, sitting, lifting, or concentrating. A minor or short-term condition gets denied here.
Step three compares your condition to the SSA's Listing of Impairments, a detailed medical rulebook. If your condition meets or equals a listing, exactly as written, you're approved without the SSA ever looking at your job history.
Step four asks whether you can still do the work you did in the last several years, based on your residual functional capacity. If you can still do your past work, your claim gets denied here.
Step five asks whether you can do any other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy, factoring in your age, education, and work experience alongside your residual functional capacity. Most contested Texas claims turn on steps four and five, because they require real medical and vocational evidence, not just a diagnosis on a chart.
Medical Conditions That Typically Qualify for Disability Benefits
The SSA's Listing of Impairments covers a wide range of conditions. Texas claimants most often qualify under:
- Musculoskeletal disorders, including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, joint disease, and amputations, common among people who've spent years in physically demanding work
- Cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease
- Neurological disorders, including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury
- Mental health conditions, including major depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and bipolar disorder — see our Mental Illness and SSD Benefits page for more on how the SSA evaluates these claims
- Cancer, at various stages depending on type and response to treatment
- Respiratory illness, including COPD and chronic asthma
- Immune system disorders, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
For a small number of the most severe conditions, the SSA uses its Compassionate Allowances program to fast-track approval, sometimes in a matter of weeks instead of months. This program covers conditions like certain aggressive cancers, ALS, and early-onset Alzheimer's disease. A related program, Terminal Illness (TERI) processing, speeds up claims for people with a terminal diagnosis. If you or a family member has one of these conditions, tell your Texas Social Security Disability lawyer right away so your claim gets flagged correctly from the start. If you're not sure whether your condition is severe enough to qualify, our Am I Disabled Enough for Social Security Disability page walks through how the SSA actually makes that call.
Applying for Social Security Disability in Texas
You can apply for SSDI or SSI online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person at your local Social Security office. Whichever way you apply, the SSA asks for the same core information: your 15-year work history, a function report describing your daily limitations, and contact information for every doctor, clinic, and hospital that has treated you.
Medical evidence wins or loses these claims. The SSA wants treatment notes, test results, imaging, and a doctor's opinion on your specific limitations, not just a list of diagnoses. Gaps in treatment, whether from cost or lack of transportation, get read by the SSA as evidence your condition isn't as limiting as you say, even when the real reason is that you couldn't afford another copay. If cost is keeping you from seeing a doctor regularly, our What If I Cannot Afford a Doctor page covers options that can still keep your claim on solid footing.
Initial decisions typically take three to five months in Texas. Our Tips to Help You Win Your SSD Claim page covers the specific mistakes that sink otherwise strong applications.
Common Reasons Social Security Disability Claims Get Denied
Understanding why claims fail helps you build a stronger one. The most common reasons the SSA denies Texas claims include:
- Not enough objective medical evidence to support the limitations you're claiming
- Earning above the substantial gainful activity limit while your claim is pending
- Failing to follow prescribed treatment without a good medical reason
- A condition expected to improve or resolve within 12 months
- Missing a consultative examination scheduled by the SSA
- Gaps in medical treatment that make your condition look less severe on paper than it is in real life
- Incomplete or inconsistent paperwork, including a function report that doesn't match your medical records
Most of these problems are fixable before you ever file, which is why a full case review before submission matters as much as the appeal itself.
Why Choose Michalk, Beatty & Alcozer, L.P.? Our Commitment to You
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Unyielding Commitment to JusticeWe strive to ensure that all persons have access to a legal process that is fair, open, transparent, and holds those who infringe on your rights accountable.
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Relentless Pursuit of Fair CompensationWe advocate to secure the maximum compensation you deserve, recognizing the profound impact your lawsuit can have on your livelihood.
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Empathetic Guidance Through AdversityWe stand by your side with unwavering support and understanding, providing guidance and reassurance during what may be one of the most challenging times in your life.
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Resolute Advocacy for Your RightsWith determination and expertise, we navigate the complexities of the legal system on your behalf, steadfastly protecting your rights and interests at every turn.
The Social Security Disability Appeals Process in Texas
If the SSA denies your initial application, you have 60 days from the date on your denial letter to appeal. Miss that deadline, and you typically have to start over from scratch. Our Denied Applications Appeals page walks through this process in more detail.
The Texas appeals process has three stages. Reconsideration comes first: a different SSA examiner reviews your full file, including any new medical evidence you submit. Most reconsiderations get denied too, but this step is still required before you can request a hearing.
If reconsideration fails, you have 60 days to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is where most successful Texas appeals turn the case around, because it's the first time a judge, rather than a case examiner working from a file, actually hears your testimony and reviews your evidence directly.
If the ALJ denies your claim, you can appeal to the Appeals Council, and from there, to federal district court. Each stage carries its own 60-day deadline, and each stage takes longer than the last, so the earlier you get the right medical evidence in front of the SSA, the faster your claim moves toward an approval instead of another denial letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 254-765-9552 today!
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How long does it take to get approved for Social Security Disability in Texas?Initial decisions typically take three to five months. If you have to appeal, add several more months for reconsideration and, if needed, up to a year or more for an Administrative Law Judge hearing, depending on how backed up your local hearing office is.
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What's the difference between SSDI and SSI?SSDI is based on your work history and payroll tax contributions, while SSI is based on financial need regardless of work history. Some claimants qualify for both programs at the same time.
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Can I work part-time while applying for disability?You can, as long as your earnings stay below the substantial gainful activity limit, which is $1,690 a month for most claimants in 2026. Earning above that limit while your claim is pending can get your application denied at the very first step.
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What if my doctor won't say I'm disabled?Your doctor doesn't have to use the word "disabled." What matters is whether your medical records document specific functional limitations, like how long you can sit, stand, or lift, that a judge or examiner can measure against the SSA's standards.
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Does my military service or VA rating affect my Social Security Disability claim?No. Social Security Disability and VA disability are separate systems with separate rules, and a VA rating doesn't automatically qualify or disqualify you for SSDI or SSI. We don't handle VA claims directly, but we regularly work with veterans pursuing Social Security Disability alongside a separate VA claim.
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I was denied. Is it too late to do anything?Only if more than 60 days have passed since your denial letter. If you're still inside that window, you can request reconsideration or a hearing, and many claims denied at the application stage eventually get approved on appeal.
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Why does it matter that Attorney Alcozer is board-certified in Social Security Disability Advocacy?That certification requires tested, in-depth knowledge of how the SSA actually evaluates claims, something fewer than 60 attorneys nationwide hold. It means the person building your case knows exactly what kind of medical evidence moves a claim from denied to approved.
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Do you charge anything upfront to handle my disability claim?No. We handle Social Security Disability cases on a contingency basis, and federal law caps the attorney's fee as a percentage of your past-due benefits, so you don't pay anything unless we win your claim.
Get Your Free Consultation
You don't have to face the Social Security Administration alone, and you don't have to pay anything to find out where you stand. Contact our office today for a free consultation with a Texas Social Security Disability lawyer, whether you're just starting your application or you've already been denied. Call (254) 765-9552. Hablamos español.
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