If you are a resident of Texas and are no longer able to work due to a disability, Social Security Disability Benefits may be an option for you. Here is what you should know if you’re hoping to qualify:
What should you do?
Just like any case you make to the government, expect it to take some time. Nothing moves fast in any government, whether it’s federal or state. However, you can speed the process along by being as informative as you possibly can. This means, always provide up-to-date medical information, whether this is a doctor’s report or a hospital report of some kind. Did you have an operation? Have you been prescribed medication? You should also have supporting evidence, such as maybe from your lawyer. If you were in a car accident, and you took the other party to court, provide these papers from your lawyer as proof of your ordeal. Anything that you can use to back up your case, you should provide those documents upon application.
Initial contact and review
Firstly, you need to contact the Department of Social Security who will then forward the claimant to the Texas Disability Determination Services agency. DDS will then review your case and you should be patient when this is occurring. They will require your medical information, a background history about yourself, why you are claiming, what happened to you and if you think you will be needing Disability benefits from social security long-term. They will assess your file and if you meet the conditions that they require you to meet, the case shall go forward.
Not first-time successful?
The Department of Social Security has a stringent definition of disability and unless you meet their standard, you will be denied. However just because you are not first-time successful does not mean you should give up. You might have not understood your own condition and thus provided the wrong information. The medical report might not have been properly assessed. Your condition might have been reinstated as a condition they recognize. You may not have provided additional information. The list of things that can go wrong is long. But if you formulate your case with hard evidence regarding medical information and how your everyday life is affected, you should be within a good chance.
Appeal process
To make an appeal, you should do so at the DDS, not at the DSS. The Texas disability determination services have a ‘request for reconsideration’ section on their website where you can reapply. If this is denied as well, then you will need to book a hearing with an administrative law judge. The hearing offices are around the state, namely in Harlingen, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth to name a few. There are eight in total. It’s best to hire a crack legal team to support your case, as this is usually the third and final attempt.
Please feel free to contact us at any time with any questions you may have about your social security application for disability. You can do so via our website, or call us at (936) 634-1414 now.