Most Texans do not anticipate having an accident that changes the course of their life. Unfortunately, it does happen. People will have accidents that result in serious injuries and place their future at risk. An on the job injury could result in a worker no longer being able to support his family because the injury has caused a long-term mental or physical disability. Someone in this situation could be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). Should an individual believe they qualify for such benefits and want to apply for SSDI or SSI, they can contact the Social Security field office nearest them. It is also possible to call Social Security. Their phone number is 800-772-1213. The application process for SSI and SSDI can also be started online. Should someone be applying for SSI, completing the process will require them to have a phone or make an in-person appointment.
Claims Examiners
A claims examiner will review a person’s application for SSI and SSDI. If Social Security decides a disability applicant or claimant in Texas meets the basic eligibility requirements for either SSDI and SSI, the applicant’s file is forwarded to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) agency for Texas. The DDS in Texas is part of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. The claims examiners at the DDS are responsible for reviewing all the medical information provided in a disability applicant’s file. They are responsible for determining if the condition of a claimant’s disability meets the criteria necessary to be classified as a disability under Social Security disability rules.
One Office
There is just one office of the DDS located in Austin, Texas. The DDS telephone number is (800) 252-7009. Their address is Division of Disability Determination Services, P.O. Box 149198, Austin, TX 78714-9198
Reconsideration
In Texas, a claimant can have their initial application claim denied. When this happens, the next step in the process involves trying to obtain a reconsideration from the DDS. It is possible for a claimant to do this and have their reconsideration denied. When this happens, the next step is to request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ). Hearings in front of an ALJ are conducted through the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO) in the Social Security Office. At one time, this was known as the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). OHO has a main office in Dallas, Texas. The OHO telephone number is (214) 767-9401. Its main office is located at suite 460, 1301 Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75202-5433. There are also eight other hearing offices operated by OHO. They are used to handle Texas hearings. These offices are located in Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, Harlingen as well as San Antonio. These locations each have two hearing offices. There is an office located in Oklahoma City to serve Texans located close to the border. Searching the Social Security’s online hearing office locator enables Texans to find the hearing office nearest to them.
Additional Assistance
In Texas, there is additional assistance available for SSI recipients. A disability applicant in Texas may qualify for a state supplement payment. The state doesn’t provide state supplement payments for every recipient of SSI residing in Texas. This supplement for SSI may be given to individuals being given institutional care. This is care funded by Medicaid. The SSI recipients who reside in an intermediate care facility serving mentally retarded individuals or a nursing home funded by Medicaid can be given a supplement of $60 each month. This will only happen if their countable income is less than $60. This state supplement is designed to help with the cost of institutional care. When an SSI recipient resides in a Medicaid facility, they will only be able to keep $30 each month of their federal payment. When an individual has been institutionalized, has no income that is countable, and they qualify to receive the full federal benefit, they will qualify to receive a state supplement of $90 each month.
Supplemental Payment Administration
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers the state’s supplemental payments. Anyone who resides in Texas can phone 2-1-1 to learn the location of the HHS office nearest to them. It is also possible for people to use the My Texas Benefits site to discover the office closest to them.
Medicaid
In Texas, all recipients of SSI, no matter what their living situation, are automatically qualified to receive Medicaid. In Texas, SSI recipients who qualify to receive Medicaid should know the Social Security Administration administers this program. Should a person be receiving SSI, they should automatically be enrolled in the Medicaid program. Should an individual not be enrolled, they should contact their local Social Security office to discover why they have not yet been enrolled.
When a person in Texas is limited by one or more of their life activities, they may be determined to be disabled. These life activities include taking care of personal needs, hearing, moving or walking as well as thinking or memory. They may be unable to live independently. It is estimated that over 3 million Texans have a disability and should seek out all the state and federal services available to them.
Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC helps injured workers and their families. Call (346) 347-7777 for a free and informative consultation!