SSDI Lawyers Near You: Corpus Christi, Texas Guide

Introduction: Why This Corpus Christi SSDI Guide Matters

Roughly one in four 20-year-olds will become disabled before retirement age, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). In Nueces County, home to Corpus Christi, chronic illnesses such as diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders mirror those national numbers. Yet even with strong medical evidence, the SSA initially denies about two-thirds of first-time Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications nationwide. If your claim was denied in Corpus Christi, you are not alone—and you still have powerful federal rights to appeal. This 2,500-plus-word guide walks South Texans through each appeal level, cites controlling federal regulations, and highlights local resources so you can protect your benefits.

Understanding Your SSDI Rights in Corpus Christi

The Federal Right to Disability Benefits

SSDI is a federal insurance program funded by payroll taxes under Title II of the Social Security Act. If you have earned enough work credits and meet the medical definition of “disability” in 42 U.S.C. § 423(d), you may collect monthly benefits, Medicare eligibility, and past-due (“back”) pay regardless of current household income.

The SSA’s Five-Step Sequential Evaluation

The SSA decides every adult SSDI claim using the five-step sequential evaluation in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520:

• Are you working at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level?

• Is your impairment “severe” under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505?

Does it meet / equal a Listing in Appendix 1 of Subpart P, Part 404?

• Can you perform your past relevant work?

• Can you do any other work in the national economy?

If the agency stops at any step, a denial letter follows. Fortunately, every claimant may request reconsideration within strict federal deadlines.

Common Reasons SSA Denies SSDI Claims

• Insufficient Medical Evidence. Corpus Christi applicants often rely solely on primary-care notes. Objective tests (e.g., MRIs, nerve conduction studies) and specialist opinions carry more weight.

• Work Above SGA. Earning over $1,470 per month (2024 non-blind figure) disqualifies most claims at Step 1. Part-time oil-field jobs or gig work on the Gulf Coast can unknowingly push income past SGA.

• Failure to Attend Consultative Exams. If you miss an SSA-scheduled exam at Coastal Bend’s contracted clinics, the agency may “decide the case on the evidence of record,” usually resulting in denial.

• Residency or Work Credit Gaps. Service-industry workers who move in and out of Texas sometimes lack the 20/40 work-credit rule (20 credits earned in the 10 years before disability onset).

• Non-Severe Finding. Reviewers may label conditions like chronic pain or PTSD as “non-severe” if records don’t show documented functional limitations over 12 consecutive months (20 C.F.R. § 404.1509).

Key Federal Protections & Regulations You Should Know

60-Day Appeal Deadline

Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.909(a)(1) and 20 C.F.R. § 422.210, you have 60 days plus five mailing days from the date you receive a denial letter to ask for reconsideration. Missing this window usually means starting over—losing months of retroactive pay—unless “good cause” is proven (20 C.F.R. § 404.911).

The Right to Representation

The Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 406, allows you to hire an attorney or qualified non-attorney advocate. Representatives cannot legally charge upfront fees; instead, they typically receive 25 % of past-due benefits, capped at $7,200 (2024), only if you win—subject to SSA approval (20 C.F.R. § 404.1720).

Evidence Rules

SSA must consider all evidence, including new records submitted at reconsideration and hearing levels (20 C.F.R. § 404.1512(a)). Treating-physician opinions get “persuasive value” based on supportability and consistency, per 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520c.

Federal Court Oversight

If the Appeals Council denies review, you may file a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, within 60 days (42 U.S.C. § 405(g)).

Steps to Take After an SSDI Denial

1 – Request Reconsideration

File SSA-561 and SSA-3441 online or in person at the Corpus Christi field office (details below). Attach any new labs, imaging, or treatment notes since the initial application.

2 – Prepare for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing

If reconsideration is denied, request an ALJ hearing within 60 days. Hearings for Corpus Christi residents are usually held by video from the San Antonio ODAR (Office of Hearings Operations). You can request an in-person hearing for good cause (HALLEX I-2-3-10).

• Written Brief. Summarize your theory of disability, citing Listings (e.g., 1.15 for spine disorders).

• Vocational Prep. Your representative may cross-examine the vocational expert about job erosion in the Coastal Bend labor market.

• Witnesses. Family or former supervisors can testify about missed workdays and on-the-job limitations.

3 – Appeals Council Review

The Appeals Council in Falls Church, VA, looks for legal errors in the ALJ decision. Submit new, material evidence dated before the ALJ decision per 20 C.F.R. § 404.970(a).

4 – Federal Court Action

If Appeals Council relief fails, file in the Southern District of Texas (Corpus Christi Division). Federal judges review the administrative record for “substantial evidence” errors. No new medical evidence is admitted at this stage.

Statute of Limitations Recap

• 60 days: Reconsideration request

• 60 days: ALJ hearing request after reconsideration denial

• 60 days: Appeals Council request after ALJ decision

• 60 days: Civil action after Appeals Council denial

When to Seek Legal Help for SSDI Appeals

Complex claims. If you have multiple impairments (e.g., diabetes plus lumbar spine stenosis) or prior workers’-comp settlements, coordinated evidence presentation is critical.

Adverse vocational testimony. A Corpus Christi claimant under age 50 must show inability to perform any work; skilled cross-examination can eliminate hypotheticals the vocational expert uses.

Deadlines. Missing one 60-day window can erase retroactive benefits back to your disability onset date. Attorneys track these dates and file electronically via Electronic Records Express (ERE).

Local familiarity. Counsel familiar with Coastal Bend medical providers—such as Driscoll Children’s for young adult residual cases or CHRISTUS Spohn specialty clinics—can obtain detailed records quickly.

Local Resources & Next Steps

Corpus Christi SSA Field Office

902 S. Padre Island Dr., Suite 200 Corpus Christi, TX 78416 Phone: 1-866-613-2852 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Mon–Fri (verify due to holiday schedules)

Major Medical Facilities for Evidence

• CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi—Shoreline (Level II Trauma)

• Driscoll Children’s Hospital (for claimants who became disabled as minors and transition to SSDI)

• Corpus Christi VA Outpatient Clinic (veterans’ medical records can support SSDI)

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Data

The Texas Workforce Commission offers vocational rehabilitation; participation records can corroborate inability to sustain employment despite services.

State Bar of Texas Licensing

All Texas attorneys must hold an active license in good standing with the State Bar of Texas. You can verify a Corpus Christi disability attorney’s status online before signing a 1696 Appointment of Representative form.

Conclusion

An SSDI denial is frustrating, but it is only the first decision in a multi-level process designed to protect claimants’ rights. By understanding federal deadlines, gathering persuasive medical evidence, and leveraging local resources in Corpus Christi, you can turn a denial into an approval—and secure the benefits you paid for through years of work.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Texas attorney regarding your specific situation.

If your SSDI claim was denied, call Louis Law Group at 833-657-4812 for a free case evaluation and claim review.