Denton Disability Lawyer — SSDI & SSI Appeals

SSDI and SSI: Two Very Different Federal Programs

Denton is a city shaped by its universities, its music scene, and a workforce spread across healthcare, education, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Whatever your background, the first step toward receiving benefits is understanding which federal program actually applies to you, because SSDI and SSI operate under completely different rules.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) functions like an insurance policy you have paid into through payroll taxes over your working life.

• Work history required: You typically need to have worked five of the past ten years and earned enough Social Security credits to remain insured.
• No financial restrictions: Your savings, your spouse's income, and your assets do not affect SSDI eligibility. The only question is whether your condition prevents you from working.
• Monthly benefit: Calculated from your personal earnings record, so higher lifetime wages generally mean a larger monthly check.
• Healthcare: Approval leads to Medicare eligibility after a 24-month waiting period from your date of entitlement.
• Who qualifies: Workers with sufficient credits who can no longer sustain employment, plus adults disabled since before age 22.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program funded by general federal tax revenue rather than Social Security contributions.

• No work history required: You do not need to have ever held a job to apply for SSI.
• Strict income and asset limits: Your household income and countable resources must fall below tight federal thresholds. Even modest savings or a second vehicle can jeopardize eligibility.
• Monthly benefit: Set at a standard federal base rate, then reduced by any other countable income you receive.
• Healthcare: SSI approval in Texas comes with immediate Medicaid coverage and no waiting period.
• Who qualifies: Low-income disabled adults without enough SSDI credits, and disabled children in lower-income households.

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Has a Disability Forced You Out of Work in the Last Two Years?

If the answer is yes, you likely have a claim worth fighting for. Speak directly with Attorney Burke Barclay today, not a receptionist, and not a paralegal.

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Fighting for Denton Workers Sidelined by Serious Illness or Injury

Denton's economy runs on a wide mix of industries, with university and healthcare employment, manufacturing plants along the I-35 corridor, warehousing and distribution, and skilled trades that keep the region's rapid growth moving forward. Years of physically demanding labor, long clinical shifts, or the compounding stress of high-responsibility roles can quietly break down even the healthiest bodies. We represent Denton County clients who are no longer able to work because of:

• Severe physical impairments (primary claims): We build strong federal cases for clients living with advanced cardiovascular disease, aggressive cancers, degenerative spinal and joint conditions, and major neurological disorders including stroke recovery, multiple sclerosis, and severe peripheral neuropathy.
• Mental health conditions (secondary claims): A serious physical illness rarely remains confined to the body alone. We are experienced at documenting severe depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorders as secondary conditions that compound a primary physical impairment, giving the judge a complete and accurate picture of what you are actually living with.

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Why Consistent Medical Documentation Wins Cases

The SSA evaluates your claim almost entirely through the lens of your medical records. Without a clear, continuous treatment history, even a genuinely disabling condition can be denied for lack of evidence. If a lapse in health insurance has left gaps in your records, we can point you to accessible care options throughout Denton County, including university-affiliated health systems and regional community clinics to help establish the ongoing documentation your case will need.

Speeding Up Claims for Aggressive or Terminal Diagnoses

Certain medical situations cannot wait through the standard federal timeline. If you or a loved one has received a diagnosis on the SSA's Compassionate Allowances (CAL) list, such as ALS, an aggressive inoperable cancer, or early-onset Alzheimer's disease, we know exactly how to prepare your application to qualify for expedited review. When filed correctly, CAL cases can be approved in a matter of weeks instead of the usual year-plus wait.