About 70% of SSDI applications are denied at the first level. A disability lawyer fixes that.
Texas SSDI applicants face the same federal system as everyone else: initial denial is common, reconsideration is mostly perfunctory, and the case usually comes down to the hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. A disability lawyer is paid only if you win — 25% of past-due benefits, capped at $9,200 (2025 cap) by federal law.
These ten Austin disability firms were selected based on published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), board certifications, bar association recognition, and client review patterns across Google, Avvo, and Justia. Firms that surfaced consistently across at least two independent sources made the list.
How we picked these 10: We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology → | How to compare firms →
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, long-term disability, ERISA appeals
Disability-focused Austin firm with 100+ combined years and multiple Super Lawyers honorees.
Lloyd Bemis (AV Preeminent, 35+ years), Lonnie Roach (board-certified ERISA), and Greg Reed (AV / Super Lawyer since 1993) anchor what is arguably the deepest disability bench in Texas. Strong on both SSA and private LTD work.
Practice focus: SSDI, ERISA long-term disability, individual disability insurance
Marc Whitehead is double board-certified in disability and litigation law; statewide practice.
Handles both ERISA group plans and individual disability insurance policies — many SSDI-only firms decline LTD work. Strong appellate experience.
Practice focus: SSDI, long-term disability, ERISA appeals
Long-tenured Austin solo with AV Martindale-Hubbell rating and Super Lawyers recognition.
Solo practice means direct attorney contact through the appeal. Smaller bandwidth but strong personal attention.
Practice focus: Long-term disability, ERISA appeals, individual disability insurance
National LTD-focused firm with Austin reach; reports 99% success rate and $500M+ recovered.
LTD-only specialization — they do not handle SSDI. Best fit if your fight is with Unum, Cigna, Hartford, or another insurer on a long-term disability policy.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability appeals
Long-standing Austin solo practice focused on Social Security disability work.
Three decades of SSDI hearing work in front of Texas ALJs. Solo means slower returns at peak demand, but strong fit for straightforward SSDI claims.
Practice focus: Individual disability insurance, ERISA, long-term disability
Statewide Texas LTD practice; clients work directly with attorney John Thompson.
Direct attorney contact through the appeal. Better for individual policy disputes than for big-volume ERISA work.
Practice focus: Long-term disability, individual disability insurance, ERISA appeals
National LTD plaintiff firm taking Texas cases through local counsel arrangements.
Large-firm resources on complex LTD disputes against major insurers. Less personal than the boutiques but heavier procedural firepower.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, disability appeals
High-volume SSDI practice with Austin presence; non-attorney representatives often handle initial intake.
Volume-oriented; useful for straightforward SSDI claims where the medical record is clean. Less suited to complex cases where the lawyer's hearing presence matters.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI nationwide
National SSDI firm taking Texas cases; recognizable cowboy-hat advertising.
Largest SSDI volume practice in the country. Trade-off is depersonalized intake and case handling, but resources are real.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, long-term disability
Austin SSDI solo with hearing experience throughout the Austin ODAR.
Knows the local ALJs by name. Smaller bandwidth, but the local-knowledge advantage is real in front of judges with strong personal preferences.
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Fit your situation, not just the practice area. A disability firm that does mostly executive-level matters is a different fit from one that does mostly hourly-worker matters. Call the firm and ask: "What does a typical client look like for you? What does a typical case look like?" If the answer is your situation, you are in the right place.
Ask who actually handles the case. Many firms market on the senior partner and route the day-to-day work to a junior associate. That is not automatically bad — junior associates can be excellent — but you should know who you are working with. Ask: "Who will I be talking to day-to-day? How often does the senior partner sit in?"
Compare quotes side by side. If the case is contingency, the percentages are usually within a narrow band. If the case is hourly, the rate and the retainer can swing thousands of dollars. Most Austin firms on this list offer a free consultation. Use two of them.
SSDI representation is regulated at the federal level: lawyers get 25% of past-due benefits, capped at $9,200 (2025 cap; adjusted periodically). You owe nothing up front and nothing if the case loses. Long-term disability (ERISA or individual policy) cases are typically contingency-based at 33-40%. Out-of-pocket costs (medical record fees, expert reports) are usually $0-$500 and are normally advanced by the firm.
SSDI initial decision: 4-7 months. Reconsideration: 3-5 months. ALJ hearing: 8-15 months after the request — Austin SSA Office of Hearings Operations has had hearing backlogs running 12+ months. Total path from initial application to ALJ decision: 18-30 months. ERISA LTD appeals: 6-18 months depending on the plan.
SSDI hearings in Austin are held at the Austin Office of Hearings Operations. Federal court review of denied SSDI claims goes to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division. ERISA LTD disputes also typically end up in federal court.
The first hundred Google results for "disability lawyer Austin" include thousands of firms. Most are competent. A handful are problems. The patterns to walk away from:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery or dismissal, leave.
The vanishing partner. You meet a senior name at intake, then never speak to them again. Ask in writing who handles your case from day to day.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to published verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We have helped thousands of clients" is marketing. Specific cases, numbers, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. Every legitimate Austin lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them. If the firm cannot put that in writing, walk away.
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Most Austin disability firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions, write down the answers, and compare across two firms before you sign.
For SSDI cases, federal law caps the fee at 25% of past-due benefits, with a $9,200 maximum (2025 cap). You owe nothing up front and nothing if the case loses. For long-term disability cases under ERISA or individual policies, lawyers typically work on a 33-40% contingency.
18-30 months from initial application to ALJ decision is typical. Initial decision in 4-7 months, reconsideration in 3-5 months, then 8-15 months for an ALJ hearing. The Austin OHO has had ongoing hearing backlogs.
Roughly 70% of initial SSDI applications are denied. Common reasons: insufficient medical evidence documenting functional limitations; gaps in treatment; doctors not stating in writing what you cannot do; income above the substantial gainful activity threshold; medical-vocational guideline scoring against you. A lawyer fixes most of these by building the file before the ALJ hearing.
SSDI is for people with sufficient work history (typically 5 of the last 10 years working full-time). SSI is a needs-based program for people without enough work credits who also have very limited income and assets. Many applicants qualify for one and not the other; some qualify for both.
Appeal. Refiling resets the clock and almost always means a worse outcome. The right move is to file a request for reconsideration within 60 days of the denial, then proceed to the ALJ hearing if reconsideration is also denied.
Limited work below the SGA (substantial gainful activity) threshold is allowed — currently $1,620/month for non-blind individuals (2025). Earnings above that level will defeat your claim, so any work should be documented carefully and discussed with your lawyer first.
Different beast. ERISA disability appeals are won or lost on the administrative record, not at trial. The internal appeal letter has to anticipate the federal court review — once the appeal is denied and you sue, the federal judge generally cannot consider new evidence. This is why ERISA-specialist firms exist.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team