Federal SSDI Appeals Lawyers in Plano, TX

Contact Our Skilled Dallas & Fort Worth Federal Disability Attorneys

If your Social Security Disability Insurance claim is rejected, you have several different opportunities to appeal the decision. First, your claim can be seen by an administrative law judge at a Social Security Appeals Council. If your claim is again denied by the administrative law judge, the next step is to take your claim to the federal district court.

Any court matter can be intimidating, and many people filing for SSDI do not have the experience or knowledge to best navigate the appeals process at this level. At Coats & Todd, we have been assisting those in need with their Social Security disability claims for more than two decades across Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond. We have consistently recovered the relief our clients deserve—even when we have had to go to federal court to do so.

If your claim has been denied, contact us now at 972-671-9922 to speak with a skilled Dallas SSDI lawyer today.

The Federal Appeals Process for SSDI

After a denial from the administrative law judge, you will have 60 days to file a complaint with your nearest federal district court. You will then be sent a summons that will need to be copied and sent (along with your complaint) to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The SSA will likely file an answer as to why they issued a denial of your claim. You must answer this filing with an opening brief that explains your position on the claim. At this point, an in-person argument may be scheduled, but it is likely that argument will be conducted via "reply and response" briefs—all of which are reviewed by a federal judge.

From there, the judge can come to one of three decisions:

• Reverse the administrative judge's decision and reward the claimant benefits
• Affirm the administrative judge's decision (uphold the denial)
• Remand the entire case and send it back to Social Security Appeals Council for further consideration

Why Do I Need an Attorney?

While the federal appeals process does sound like a lot of paperwork, it is highly advised that claimants retain counsel to oversee and facilitate this process. The truth of the matter is that the appeals process is highly sensitive and thoroughly scrutinized. If there is any opportunity to dismiss an appealed claim, officials will do so in order to attend to the high volume of cases they receive.

That is why it is so critical to have an attorney who can navigate this process on your behalf. Not every Social Security disability firm handles federal appeals cases, but our Dallas-Fort Worth attorneys are well-versed in this process and what needs to go into every document submitted. We can ensure that your appeal is thoroughly heard and that you receive the very best chance of receiving the benefits you deserve.

Experience Matters

Our federal disability lawyers' experience in this particular area of SSD law distinguishes us from the competition. Below is a listing of our recent cases handled in federal court on behalf of our clients.

Recent Cases in Federal Court:

• Lee v. Colvin, No. 4:14-CV-418-CAN, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8600 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 26, 2016)
• Anderson v. Colvin, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7950 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 25, 2016)
• Gainus v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-4381-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 173381 (N.D. Tex. Dec. 31, 2015)
• Watson v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-4326-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 172004 (N.D. Tex. Dec. 28, 2015)
• Ellis v. Colvin, No. 14-CV-0564-CVE-TLW, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148081 (N.D. Okla. Nov. 2, 2015)
• Brown v. Colvin, No. 3:14-CV-4237-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145205 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 27, 2015)
• Davidson v. Colvin, No. 3:14-CV-2377-M(BH), 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131892 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 30, 2015)
• Huey v. Colvin, No. 3:14-CV-2861-P, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 132264 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 30, 2015)
• Moncier v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., No. 4:13-cv-609, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124807 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 18, 2015).
• Goforth v. Colvin, No. 4:14-cv-181-ALM-CAN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118086 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 2, 2015)
• King v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-1436-BF, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116176 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 31, 2015)
• Hutchins v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-1975-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103368 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 6, 2015)
• Medina v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-2209-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103365 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 6, 2015)
• Boone v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-1881-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85440 (N.D. Tex. July 1, 2015)
• Reese v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-1779-P-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125009 (N.D. Tex. June 25, 2015), adopted 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123966 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 17, 2015)
• McAnear v. Colvin, No. 3:13-cv-4985-BF, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38249 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 26, 2015)
• Kern v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-0437-BH, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37250 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 25, 2015)
• Roberson v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-1503-BN, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32272 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 16, 2015)
• Thornhill v. Colvin, No. 3:14-cv-335-M-BN, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 180595 (N.D. Tex. Dec.15, 2014), adopted 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5615 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 16, 2015)
• Tribble v. Colvin, No. 3:13-cv-2321-BF, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136719 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 29, 2014)

Noteworthy Federal Cases Our Firm Has Handled:

• Vergara v. Colvin, 535 F. App'x 687 (10th Cir. 2013)
• Villalobos v. Colvin, 544 F. App'x 793 (10th Cir. 2013)
• Wichman v. Astrue, 857 F. Supp. 2d 618 (W.D. Tex. 2012)
• Jones v. Astrue, 821 F. Supp. 2d 842 (N.D. Tex. 2011)
• Noble v. Astrue, 813 F. Supp. 2d 843 (N.D. Tex. 2011)