Disability Lawyers Near Me: SSDI Guide Irving, Texas

Introduction: Why an Irving-Focused SSDI Guide Matters

More than 260,000 Dallas-Fort Worth residents live with a disability severe enough to limit substantial gainful activity (SGA), according to the most recent American Community Survey. Many of those individuals live or work in Irving, Texas, a city uniquely positioned between two Social Security Administration (SSA) hubs—the Dallas Regional Office and the Fort Worth Hearing Office. Yet Irving claimants receive the same form letters as everyone else when the SSA issues a denial. Those letters rarely explain—in plain English—why you were denied or how you can preserve your right to appeal.

This location-specific guide walks you through every step of an SSDI denial appeal in Irving, Texas. The information is drawn exclusively from authoritative sources such as the Social Security Act, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and published SSA guidance. Where local context is important, we provide verified details about the Irving field office, regional hearing statistics, and Texas attorney-licensing rules. While the guide slightly favors the claimant’s viewpoint, every statement is evidence-based and free of speculation.

Understanding Your SSDI Rights

1. What Benefits Are at Stake?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays monthly cash benefits and eventually qualifies you for Medicare if a medically determinable impairment prevents you from working at SGA levels for at least 12 continuous months or is expected to result in death. Benefits also extend to certain dependents.

2. Statutory Authority

Your core rights come from Section 223(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 423(d)) and implementing regulations in 20 CFR Part 404. Two provisions particularly worth bookmarking:

• 20 CFR § 404.1505: Defines disability for SSDI purposes.

• 20 CFR § 404.1520: Describes the five-step sequential evaluation process SSA uses to decide claims.

3. The Five-Step Sequential Evaluation—Your Legal Roadmap

• Current Work – Are you earning above the SGA threshold ($1,470 per month in 2023 for non-blind claimants)?

• Severity – Does your impairment significantly limit basic work activities?

• Listed Impairment – Does your condition “meet or equal” a Listing in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (often called the Blue Book)?

• Past Relevant Work – Can you still perform any job you held in the last 15 years?

• Other Work – Considering your age, education, and transferable skills, can you perform any work in the national economy?

Understanding these steps is crucial because every denial letter corresponds to one or more steps in this framework.

Common Reasons SSA Denies SSDI Claims

Nationally, the SSA denies roughly two-thirds of initial SSDI applications. In fiscal year 2022, the Dallas Region denial rate was consistent with the national average, according to SSA’s Open Government statistics. Below are the most frequent—and preventable—reasons.

1. Medical Insufficiency

If your medical file lacks recent diagnostic imaging, specialist reports, or longitudinal treatment notes, the Disability Determination Services (DDS) examiner may conclude that your impairment is “not severe” under 20 CFR § 404.1521. Irving claimants often receive treatment at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Irving or Parkland Health clinics; be sure those providers promptly send records to DDS.

2. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

Exceeding the monthly SGA threshold—even briefly—can trigger an automatic denial at Step 1. Self-employed gig workers in Irving sometimes overlook the fact that net earnings count toward SGA.

3. Duration of Impairment

Under 20 CFR § 404.1509, your condition must last—or be expected to last—at least 12 months. Acute injuries that improve with treatment are frequently denied.

4. Non-Compliance With Treatment

Failing to follow prescribed therapy without “good cause” (see 20 CFR § 404.1530) allows SSA to deny claims. If medication side effects, religious beliefs, or lack of insurance impede compliance, you must document those factors.

5. Technical Issues

• Insufficient work credits – You generally need 20 quarters of coverage in the 40-quarter period ending with disability onset (20 CFR § 404.130).

• Missed deadlines – Failing to respond to DDS letters or to attend a consultative exam will lead to a “denial due to insufficient evidence.”

• Incorrect forms – Using an outdated SSA-827 (Authorization to Disclose Information) can stall your file.

Federal Legal Protections & Regulations

1. Notice and Opportunity to Be Heard

Section 205(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 405(b)) guarantees every claimant written notice of an adverse decision and the right to a hearing before an impartial Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

2. Timelines You Must Meet

• Request for Reconsideration: Within 60 days of the date you receive the initial denial (20 CFR § 404.909(a)).

• ALJ Hearing: File within 60 days of the Reconsideration denial (20 CFR § 404.933(b)).

• Appeals Council Review: 60 days after ALJ decision (20 CFR § 404.968(a)).

• Federal District Court: 60 days after Appeals Council decision (20 CFR § 422.210(c)).

The SSA presumes you receive a decision letter five days after its mailing date unless you prove otherwise (20 CFR § 404.901).

3. Evidence Standards

The SSA assesses medical opinions under 20 CFR § 404.1520c, which evaluates persuasiveness based primarily on supportability and consistency. Treating physicians no longer enjoy automatic “controlling weight,” so make sure each record explicitly ties clinical findings to functional limitations.

4. Fee Regulation for Representatives

All attorney or advocate fees must be approved by SSA under 20 CFR § 404.1720. The standard fee agreement caps payment at 25 percent of past-due benefits, not to exceed $7,200 (as of November 30, 2022).

Steps to Take After an SSDI Denial

Step 1: Read Your Denial Letter Carefully

Identify the rationale—often coded as “RFC—Past Relevant Work” or “IMP—Duration.” Knowing which sequential-evaluation step applies will help you target additional evidence.

Step 2: Mark the 60-Day Deadline

Calculate 65 days from the letter’s date to account for the five-day mailing presumption. Circle that date on your calendar; missing it usually ends your claim unless you demonstrate “good cause” under 20 CFR § 404.911.

Step 3: File a Request for Reconsideration

You can submit Form SSA-561 online, by mail, or in person at the Irving Field Office, 2000 Esters Rd, Suite 120, Irving, TX 75061. Telephone: 888-480-6128.

Step 4: Strengthen Your Medical File

• Update Treatment Records – Request progress notes from specialists such as neurologists at UT Southwestern or cardiologists at Medical City Las Colinas.

• Obtain a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) – Objective testing can clarify lifting, standing, and postural limits.

Ask Your Doctor for a Medical Source Statement – The form should address sitting, standing, lifting, and absenteeism in vocational terms.

Step 5: Consider Non-Medical Evidence

Third-party statements from former employers or caregivers are admissible under 20 CFR § 404.1513(a)(4). These statements frequently sway ALJs when medical records are borderline.

Step 6: Prepare for the ALJ Hearing

The Dallas Downtown Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) currently handles most Irving appeals, with an average wait time of 9–10 months from hearing request to disposition, per the SSA’s publicly available hearing statistics. Hearings are now offered via video, in-person, or by telephone. Carefully review your exhibit file (labeled A through F) before testimony.

Step 7: Appeals Council and Federal Court

If the ALJ denies your claim, you may request Appeals Council review in Falls Church, Virginia. After that, you can file a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, located about 12 miles from downtown Irving.

When to Seek Legal Help for SSDI Appeals

1. Complexity of the Record

Multiple impairments (e.g., diabetes plus neuropathy plus depression) often require vocational expert (VE) cross-examination. An Irving disability attorney familiar with local ALJs can frame hypotheticals that highlight all your limitations.

2. Adverse Medical Opinions

If the Disability Determination Services physician opined you could perform “light work,” you will need countervailing testimony. Attorneys routinely commission treating-source opinions that directly rebut DDS conclusions.

3. Texas Licensing and SSA Accreditation

To practice law in Texas, attorneys must be licensed by the State Bar of Texas and remain in good standing (Texas Government Code § 81.051). Non-attorney representatives must be eligible for direct payment under 20 CFR § 404.1717. Always verify credentials on the State Bar of Texas website.

4. Cost-Benefit Analysis

Because representative fees are contingency-based and capped, most claimants pay nothing upfront. Given the average lifetime value of SSDI benefits, professional representation often pays for itself many times over.

Local Resources & Next Steps

1. SSA Offices Serving Irving

• Field Office: 2000 Esters Rd, Suite 120, Irving, TX 75061. Phone: 888-480-6128. Hours: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (verify before visiting).

• Office of Hearings Operations (OHO): 1301 Young St, Room 460, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: 866-931-9942.

2. Medical Providers Familiar to SSA

• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Irving (901 MacArthur Blvd)

• Medical City Las Colinas (6800 N. MacArthur Blvd)

• Parkland Irving Community Clinic (1800 N. Britain Rd)

3. Vocational & Rehabilitation Services

Texas Workforce Commission – Vocational Rehabilitation 1411 W. Airport Fwy, Irving, TX 75062. Phone: 469-893-1100.

• Local nonprofit: Disability Rights Texas (statewide intake 800-252-9108).

4. Self-Help Materials

The SSA publishes a detailed overview of the four-level appeal system on its official site: SSA Disability Appeal Information. You may also consult the full text of the regulations at 20 CFR Part 404.

Legal Disclaimer

This guide provides general information only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship and should not be relied upon as legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Texas attorney.

Take Action Today

If your SSDI claim was denied, call Louis Law Group at 833-657-4812 for a free case evaluation and claim review.