Best Social Security Disability Lawyers in Dallas, TX in 2026

Many law firms handle Social Security disability claims in the Dallas area. Some practice disability law and nothing else, while others fit SSDI around personal injury, probate, and DWI defense. A few put the attorney on the phone with you the first day, while others you meet your hearing representative a year into the case.

Those differences decide more about a denied claim than any award badge does, and none of them show up in a directory listing.

What follows is what each Social Security disability firm actually practices, what it will charge you in costs if you lose, and the kind of case each one fits. We started with Expertise.com's 2026 Dallas Social Security and disability list, which names seven firms, and added two more Texas firms that come up often in DFW disability searches. Each entry below outlines what the firm practices, its fee and cost structure, how accessible the attorney is, how far the firm takes appeals, and any board certification or recognition it holds.

The Dallas-Area Social Security Disability Firms Worth Knowing

The Law Office of Burke Barclay (Dallas)

Focus: Disability law, with a strong focus on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), since 2014

Also handles: Certain private and individual disability insurance claims, including short-term disability matters

Office: 3838 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 1000, Dallas, TX 75219

Burke Barclay Law has focused exclusively on disability law since its founding in 2014. Its practice centers heavily on SSDI and SSI claims, including applications, appeals, and cases involving denied benefits. The firm covers certain private disability and insurance claims.

The firm operates on a contingency basis, with no fee unless the firm wins, and clients don’t pay administrative expenses if the case is unsuccessful. Clients work directly with the Barclay team to develop their legal strategy rather than being routed through a large call-center model. The firm serves clients throughout Texas and in several neighboring states through virtual representation.

Recognition: 2024 DFW Favorite for Social Security Disability Law; Avvo Clients' Choice Award (2016); member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives.

Best fit for: SSDI and SSI claimants who have already been denied, particularly workers over 50 with a history of physical labor, and people who want the attorney on the phone rather than a call center.

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Brad Thomas Disability, PLLC (Plano)

Focus: Social Security disability

Also handles: Assistance with Medicare qualification related to disability benefits

Office: 5830 Granite Pkwy, Plano, TX 75024

Brad Thomas founded his disability practice over nine years ago and has built the strongest public review record of any firm in this market: 457 Google reviews at a 4.9 average as of Expertise.com's August 2026 update. As of February 2026, the firm has won more than 89 percent of its cases involving claimants over 50, the population where SSA's Medical-Vocational Guidelines matter most.

Plano is a real consideration if you live in southern Dallas County and don’t drive. Check the commute before you sign.

Best fit for: Claimants over 50 who want a focused disability practice with a long, verifiable review history.

The Law Offices of Coats & Todd (Plano)

Focus: Social Security disability

Also handles: No other practice areas listed; the firm says it focuses exclusively on Social Security disability

Office: 1424 Gables Court, Plano, TX 75075

Coats & Todd has spent over 20 years on Social Security disability claims across North Texas, working the process from initial application through appeal. Christopher L. Coats practices out of Plano and is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which matters if your case eventually needs to leave the SSA system entirely.

The firm handles both SSDI and SSI cases, so prospective clients should confirm that they meet the firm’s current intake requirements before scheduling a consultation.

Best fit for: Social Security disability claimants who want a firm dedicated to SSDI and SSI matters

Denman Law Office (Dallas)

Focus: Social Security disability

Office: 5025 North Central Expressway, Suite 2004, Dallas, TX 75205

Stanley Denman has run a Dallas disability practice since 1991, representing claimants through the various stages of the process, from initial applications and reconsideration through administrative hearings, Appeals Council, and federal court. He belongs to both the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives and the Dallas Association of Social Security Claimants Attorneys, the latter being a signal that a lawyer is embedded in the local practice community rather than working DFW from out of state.

This is a small, long-established practice with a relatively limited online footprint. Expertise.com currently lists 16 Avvo reviews alongside five Yelp reviews. The firm’s longevity and specialization are its most impressive features.

Best fit for: Claimants who want a small, veteran Dallas practice and aren’t deterred by a limited online footprint.

Graves Law Group (Dallas)

Focus: Social Security disability and personal injury

Also handles: General legal services

Office: 12700 Park Central Dr., Suite 520, Dallas, TX 75251

Curtis C. Graves has practiced since 1998 and is a member of the Dallas Association of Social Security Claimants Attorneys. The firm's described process leans heavily on evidence development after a denial: contacting treating physicians directly for medical reports and collecting statements from family members and friends about how the condition affects daily function.

Most claimants undervalue that second piece. Third-party function statements can be persuasive at hearing when the medical file alone does not capture what a day actually looks like.

The firm also represents clients in personal injury matters, so Social Security disability isn’t its only practice area.

Best fit for: Denials where the medical record is thin and lay testimony needs to carry weight.

Heard & Smith, LLP (San Antonio, Serving Dallas)

Focus: Social Security disability and SSI

Also handles: VA disability, estate planning, probate, guardianship, inheritance, personal injury

Office: 10715 Gulfdale St., Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78216

Heard & Smith is a long-established disability law firm in Texas with decades of experience and a large team of attorneys and support staff. They serve Dallas and clients throughout Texas from multiple offices.

Scale is the trade. A firm this size has case management systems and staff depth that a five-person office cannot match. It also means clients may work with disability specialists and other staff members for some communications and case-related tasks rather than speaking directly with an attorney every time. Whether that is a problem depends entirely on what you want out of the relationship.

Best fit for: Claimants who prioritize institutional capacity and a statewide footprint over direct contact with attorneys.

Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. (Dallas)

Focus: Personal injury

Also handles: Social Security disability, DWI defense, wills, probate

Office: 2777 N Stemmons Fwy, Suite 1300, Dallas, TX 75207

Kraft & Associates has been serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area for more than 50 years. Social Security disability is among its practice areas, handled from initial application through reconsideration and ALJ hearing, but personal injury is also a significant part of the firm’s practice. The firm states that many of its staff members have been with the firm for decades, which may provide continuity when a disability case takes an extended period to resolve.

Best fit for: People who already have a relationship with the firm, or who have a disabling injury and may also have a related personal injury claim.

Marc Whitehead & Associates, Attorneys at Law, LLP (Dallas)

Focus: Disability law broadly

Also handles: Long-term disability insurance and ERISA appeals, VA disability

Office: 12830 Hillcrest Rd, Suite D111-12, Dallas, TX 75230

Marc Whitehead & Associates has been practicing disability law for more than three decades and works on SSDI and SSI applications as well as disability insurance claims and ERISA matters. Founding attorney Marc Whitehead is board certified in Social Security Disability Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has extensive experience in the field. I would remove the claim that he chaired the Houston Bar Association’s Social Security Section unless you have a current source specifically confirming it.

The reason to know this firm: they handle private long-term disability and ERISA appeals in addition to Social Security. If your denial letter came from MetLife, Cigna, Unum, or Prudential rather than from SSA, this is a firm equipped to handle disability disputes as well as Social Security claims. That combination can be useful for claimants pursuing both Social Security and private disability benefits.

Best fit for: Claimants with a denied private disability insurance policy, an ERISA appeal, or overlapping SSA and insurance claims.

Morgan & Weisbrod, LLP (Dallas)

Focus: Social Security disability and veterans' disability

Office: 11551 Forest Central Drive, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75243

Founded in 1978, Morgan & Weisbrod is one of the more established disability practices in the Dallas area. The firm states it has more board-certified Social Security disability attorneys than any other firm than any other firm in the United States, and managing partner Paul B. Burkhalter is board certified in the specialty. They represent claimants across multiple states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. The firm also has a substantial online review presence, carrying 280 Google reviews at 4.7.

If board certification is the criterion you care about most, Morgan & Weisbrod stands out for the number of attorneys it says are board certified in Social Security disability law. Its combination of Social Security and veterans’ disability representation can also be relevant when pursuing both types of benefits.

Best fit for: Claimants who want a disability-focused firm with an emphasis on formal credentials, and veterans running both SSA and VA claims.

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Which One Is Right for Your Situation?

Firm quality matters less than firm fit. Here is the honest routing.

• Your SSDI or SSI claim was denied by SSA. Any firm on this list may be able to help with an appeal, so look at each firm’s practice focus and how much hands-on help it provides with the Work History Report and Function Report. Those forms are an important part of the record, and you want an attorney who takes the time to ensure they accurately describe your limitations.
• You are over 50 with a manual labor history. This is the strongest category of claim in the system, because SSA's Medical-Vocational Guidelines make it harder for the agency to argue you can retrain into desk work. Ask any firm you interview to explain how the Grid Rules could apply to your particular situation.
• Your denial came from an insurance company, not SSA. You need an attorney who handles long-term disability insurance or ERISA claims, rather than a firm that focuses solely on Social Security. On this list, that is Marc Whitehead & Associates. We don’t handle private policy claims at all.
• You are a veteran. VA disability and Social Security disability are entirely separate systems with different standards. Morgan & Weisbrod, Coats & Todd, and Heard & Smith all work both. Burke Barclay handles the SSA side only, including for veterans who already hold a 100 percent VA rating.
• You are filing SSI for a disabled child. Ask specifically about childhood listings and the functional equivalence standard, which is a different analysis from adult claims. Most firms here take these; not all of them do many.
• Your disabling condition came from an accident someone else caused. Kraft & Associates handles both the injury claim and the disability claim, which can be simpler than coordinating two firms.
• You have no medical treatment history because you have no insurance. Say this out loud on your first call. Ask the firm how it would approach building the medical record before or during your claim. A firm that shrugs won’t build your file. Parkland in Dallas County and JPS in Tarrant County can establish the treatment record SSA requires, and a good firm will walk you into that process before filing anything.

What Every Disability Lawyer Can and Cannot Charge You

This is the part of the search almost nobody explains, and it is where firms actually differ.

Attorney fees in Social Security cases are set by federal law, not by the firm. Under the fee agreement process, your representative can collect the lesser of 25 percent of your past-due benefits or $9,200, whichever is smaller, and only if you win. SSA must approve the fee and typically pays it directly out of your back pay. So when nine firms all advertise "no fee unless we win," they are describing the same federal rule.

Costs are a separate category, and the cap doesn’t apply to them. SSA's own appointment form states that in addition to the authorized fee, a claimant may owe the representative's out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of obtaining copies of medical records. Records requests, postage, and copying can run into the hundreds of dollars on a well-documented file.

Many firms bill those costs to the client regardless of outcome. Some absorb them. Ask every firm you interview this exact question: "If I lose at every level, what will I owe you?" The answer separates firms far more reliably than any award badge. Our answer is zero, and we put it in writing.

Five Questions to Ask on Your First Call

1. Who will represent me at my ALJ hearing, and can I speak with that person today? At some firms the answer is the person on the phone. At others, you won’t meet your representative for a year.
2. If I lose, what do I owe you in costs? See above.
3. How far will you take my case? Reconsideration and ALJ hearing are standard. The Appeals Council and federal district court are not. Ask whether the firm files in the Northern District of Texas.
4. Will you help me fill out the Work History Report and Function Report, or do I complete them alone? These two forms carry more weight than most claimants realize, and "we'll mail them to you" is a meaningful answer.
5. Have you handled my specific condition before? A firm that has built cardiac or oncology files knows which measurements SSA looks for. You should also ask about your condition directly.

Red Flags in Dallas Disability Advertising

• "Guaranteed approval". No lawyer can promise an outcome in a federal benefits case, and Texas advertising rules restrict that language for a reason.
• No named attorney anywhere on the site. National referral operations frequently advertise into DFW, sign you up, and then farm the file out to whichever local attorney is available on your hearing date.
• Pressure to file a new application after a denial. This is the most expensive mistake in the entire system. You have 60 days from the date on your denial letter to file a Reconsideration. A new application restarts the clock and can wipe out accumulated back pay. SSA's appeals process is the correct path.