Texas SSDI and SSI Benefits

If you live in Texas and you can't work full-time for at least one year due to a physical or mental impairment, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI eligibility is based on your employment history and how much you've paid in payroll taxes, while SSI is need-based and available to low-income disabled adults and children.

How to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits in Texas

You can begin your application for SSDI or SSI benefits in several ways:

• Start your application online at SSA.gov.
• Call 800-772-1213 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Go in person to your closest Social Security field office.

If you're applying for SSDI benefits, you'll be able to complete your application online, if you choose that method of filling. If you're applying for SSI, you can start your application online, but at some point you'll need to have an appointment with a Social Security representative (over the phone or in-person) in order to complete your application.

Texas Disability Determination Services

After the Social Security Administration determines that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for disability benefits, your application will be forwarded to the Texas Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. DDS is a state agency that processes claims for disability benefits filed in Texas. At DDS, a claims examiner will review your medical records in order to determine whether you're disabled under the Social Security rules and regulations.

The Texas DDS is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, which is headquartered in Austin. You can contact them at:

Disability Determination Services
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 13247
Austin, Texas 78711-3247

Telephone: 512-424-6500

Disability applications that are being reviewed by DDS for the first time are called initial claims. Not many people are awarded benefits at this stage, however. According to Social Security, in fiscal year 2023, only about 35% of initial claims were approved in Texas. For many Texans, that means that they'll need to submit at least one appeal before they'll qualify for disability benefits.

Disability Appeals in Texas

If your initial claim is denied, the next step is to request a reconsideration from another claims examiner at Texas DDS. You have 60 days after you've received your denial notice to request reconsideration. At this stage, your claim is still being reviewed at DDS, but this time a different examiner will go over your application along with any new evidence you've submitted. In 2023, only about 15% of Texas claims were approved at reconsideration, so you'll likely have to appeal again—this time by asking for a hearing with an administrative law judge.

As with your first appeal, you'll have 60 days from receipt of your reconsideration denial to request a hearing with a judge. What's different at this stage is that your application won't be handled by DDS any longer. Instead, the part of the federal Social Security Administration that is responsible for holding disability hearings—the Office of Hearing Operations, or OHO—will take over your claim.

The OHO operates nine hearing offices that serve Texans. Each OHO covers claims from a certain geographic area based on the Social Security field office that first looked at your claim. You can find their contact information below.

Dallas (Downtown) OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Corsicana, Dallas (Fair Park), Dallas (Oak Cliff), Georgetown, San Marcos, South Austin, Temple, and Waco.

Harwood Center, Suite 2300
1999 Bryan Street
Dallas, TX 75201

Telephone: 866-563-3885
Fax: 833-648-0165
eFile Fax: 877-904-5484

Dallas (North) OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Dallas (North), Denton, Greenville, Longview, McKinney, Mid-Cities, Palestine, Paris, Pleasant Grove, Mount Pleasant, Sherman, Tyler, and Waxahachie.

Building 9, Suite 500
12790 Merit Drive
Dallas, TX 75251

Telephone: 866-331-7135
Fax: 833-631-1014
eFile Fax: 877-904-5524

Fort Worth OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Abilene, Big Spring, Brownwood, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Fort Worth (South), Lubbock, Odessa, Plainview, and San Angelo.

Federal Office Building, Room 9A27
819 Taylor Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102

Telephone: 866-613-2744
Fax: 833-985-2267
eFile Fax: 877-904-5540

Houston (North) OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Beaumont, Brenham, Bryan, Conroe, Houston (Downtown, Northeast, and Southeast), Lufkin, and Port Arthur.

4015 Aldine Bender Road
Houston, TX 77032

Telephone: 877-850-7829
Fax: 833-631-1018
eFile Fax: 877-486-2938

Houston (West) OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Angleton, Galveston, Houston (Northwest and Southwest), Pasadena, and Victoria.

9700 Richmond Avenue
Suite 200
Houston, TX 77042

Telephone: 866-779-5456
Fax: 833-648-0167
eFile Fax: 877-847-1603

Oklahoma City OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Amarillo, Pampa, and Wichita Falls.

Suite 300
301 NW 6th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Telephone: 866-701-8094
Fax: 833-302-0021
eFile Fax: 877-559-1929

Rio Grande Valley OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen, and Mission.

Suite 200
2009 West Jefferson Avenue
Harlingen, TX 78550

Telephone: 877-452-6985
Fax: 833-702-0719
eFile Fax: 877-435-0329

San Antonio OHO
Services claims from the field offices in Austin, Alice, Corpus Christi, Eagle Pass, El Paso (Downtown), Kerrville, Laredo, San Antonio (Central, Downtown, Northwest, and South), and Seguin.

10222 San Pedro Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78216

Telephone: 855-829-8915
Fax: 833-694-0067
eFile Fax: 877-864-5402

Shreveport OHO
Services claims from the field office in Marshall.

Louisiana Tower, Suite 700
401 Edwards Street
Shreveport, LA 71101-6129

Telephone: 866-690-1805
Fax: 833-311-0095
eFile Fax: 877-864-5923

Most people who receive disability benefits are ultimately awarded after a disability hearing. Texas doesn't buck this trend, with around 40% of hearings statewide resulting in an approval of benefits. However, the exact number can vary by OHO and judge. You can find the most recent "raw" disposition data for your OHO and judge here. (Divide the number in the "awards" column by the number in the "decisions" column to get an idea of the percentage of approvals by judge.)

Receiving Supplemental Security Income Disability Benefits in Texas

In 2024, the maximum an individual can receive in SSI is $943 per month ($1,415 for a couple). This is known as the "federal benefit rate," and is adjusted every year to reflect changes in the cost of living. This amount may be reduced if you're working, however, although certain types of income are excluded from the calculations.

While SSI benefits are paid by the federal government, Texas administers a State Supplemental Program on top of the federal benefit rate. These (typically small) state supplemental payments are administered by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). You can call 211 or use the My Texas Benefits site to find an HHS office near you. Representatives at HHS can help you calculate how much you're able to receive in SSI benefits.

Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance in Texas

In 2024, the most you're able to receive in SSDI is $3,822 per month, but the average payment is much less, around $1,500 per month. SSDI payments don't vary by state or have a state supplement, so the benefit calculations for people receiving SSDI in Texas are the same as in any other state.

Do I Need a Lawyer to File for Disability Benefits?

You don't need to have an attorney at any stage of the disability determination process, but it's generally a smart idea to have one. Many national disability law firms have offices in Texas, or you might prefer a local "boutique" firm or solo practitioner. Regardless of who you choose to represent you, make sure your lawyer is a good fit for you and your case.