If you live in the Houston area and a medical condition keeps you from working, your main legal lane is Social Security disability — Texas has no state short-term disability program, so SSDI and SSI carry the load. Initial Texas SSDI claims are denied at roughly 60% to 70%. The hearing office you draw matters; the medical evidence you bring matters more. The 5 firms below all focus heavily on Social Security disability and ERISA long-term disability claims, and all work on contingency under the federal fee cap. None charges anything up front.
Most people try to file SSDI on their own first. That's fine — there is no requirement for representation at the initial application stage, and a clean medical record sometimes carries the day. But several situations call for a lawyer before you do anything else:
Houston disability hearings run through the Houston Downtown ODAR (Smith Street) and Houston North ODAR (Greenspoint area). Federal appeals after ALJ denial go to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Disability law is one of the most price-protected practice areas — you should never pay up front:
Social Security pays approved attorney fees directly out of back pay — you never write the lawyer a check. ERISA long-term-disability cases are typically contingency at 25% to 40%, sometimes with fee-shifting under ERISA § 502(g) if the case is exceptionally strong. ADA workplace cases are almost always contingency with potential statutory fee shifting.
Realistic 2026 ranges:
None of these timelines are flexible. Your lawyer's job is to prevent paperwork-deadline losses and build the medical record so the judge can approve at hearing.
Houston firm focused exclusively on Social Security disability since the early 2000s. Attorneys Michael Makris, Luther Dulevitz, and Josh Cooper have a combined 70+ years and report representing 10,000+ disability claimants. SSDI/SSI only — no other practice areas — which keeps the firm sharp on Houston ODAR specifics and current SSA rulings.
Board-certified Houston disability practice covering SSDI, long-term disability (ERISA), veterans' disability, and ADA claims. Particularly strong on ERISA long-term disability denials — a niche area where many SSDI-only firms don't go. Multi-state practice with primary office in Houston.
SSDI-focused practice founded by Jeremy S. Willis in 2001. Has represented more than 5,000 disabled individuals across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Multiple Texas offices including Sugar Land and Conroe — close enough to handle Houston-metro claimants without travel. Strong choice for greater Houston-area residents who want local representation outside the downtown core.
Houston solo practice run by attorney Jim Andrews, who has handled Social Security disability for 40 years. Deep familiarity with both Houston ODARs and the medical-vocational grid arguments that win cases for claimants over 50. Good fit when you want a long-tenured, single-attorney relationship rather than a high-volume firm.
Houston SSDI attorney Michael Hengst, with 25+ years and 1,000+ clients represented. SSDI/SSI focus with hearing experience at both Houston ODARs. Good fit when you want a mid-sized practice — more attentive than a high-volume firm, more depth than a true solo.
Tell us briefly what's happening. We route a confidential request to the best-fit Houston firm in this directory. No high-pressure sales calls.