Supplemental Security Income

SSI Lawyer in Abilene, TX

Ty Groat is an SSI lawyer in Abilene, TX who helps adults and children with disabilities and limited income apply for monthly SSI benefits and the Medicaid coverage that comes with them.

Call (325) 659-2305 Contact the Office

What Supplemental Security Income Covers

Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a federal program run by Social Security. It pays monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are blind, age 65 or older, or have a qualifying disability. Children who are blind or have disabilities may also receive SSI.

Unlike SSDI, SSI is not based on your work history or a family member's work history. It is paid from the general funds of the U.S. Treasury, not from the Social Security taxes taken from a paycheck. That makes it the key program for people who never worked, worked only a little, or did not build up enough coverage.

For adults, the medical standard for disability is generally the same as in SSDI. The difference is the financial test. An SSI claim has to prove two things at once: a disabling condition and real financial need. An SSI lawyer in Abilene, TX can help you prepare both halves of the claim.

SSDI vs SSI: Which Program Fits You

Many people are not sure which program to apply for, and some qualify for both. Sorting out SSDI vs SSI starts with one question: did you work long enough, and recently enough, while paying Social Security taxes?

If you did, SSDI may be available, and your monthly amount is tied to your earnings record. If you did not, or your earnings were low, SSI may be the right claim. Some people with a modest work record receive a small SSDI payment and qualify for SSI on top of it. A separate application can be filed for each program.

The two programs also lead to different health coverage. SSDI leads to Medicare after a waiting period, while SSI in Texas generally comes with Medicaid. We look at your full history at the first meeting and explain which claim fits. If SSDI is the better fit, an SSDI lawyer in Abilene, TX can take you through that program in detail.

When an SSI Lawyer in Abilene, TX Can Help

SSI claims are reviewed closely on both the medical side and the financial side. A mistake on either one can end the claim. Talking with an SSI lawyer in Abilene, TX is worth it when:

You have little or no work history and are not sure where to start.
You live with family members whose income or support may be counted.
You own a vehicle, land or savings and do not know what Social Security counts.
You are applying for a child with a disability.
You already received a denial and the 60 day window to appeal is running.

Social Security generally gives you 60 days from the day you receive a decision to ask for review. Missing that deadline can mean starting over. If you have already been denied, a disability appeal lawyer in Abilene, TX can help with reconsideration and hearings for SSI claims too.

Date on the letterplus 5 days for mail 60 daysgenerally, to ask for the next level of review

How We Work

Our SSI Claim Process

An SSI claim brings together medical proof and financial records, and Social Security reviews both before it approves a claim. Ty Groat manages the whole claim so nothing falls through the cracks between the two.

From the first meeting until the decision arrives, the office keeps you updated. Questions that come up along the way get clear answers in plain language.

Talking Through Your Situation

You meet with Ty Groat at the office in San Angelo to talk about your health, your household and your finances. We look at eligibility for SSI, SSDI or both. We also discuss payment arrangements at this first meeting.
Reviewing Income and Resources

We go over your income, savings, vehicles, property and living arrangement to see what Social Security will count. Spotting a problem early is far easier than explaining it after a denial.
Building the Medical Record

We gather and review your medical records, then work with your doctors to show how your condition limits daily life, school or work. Clear evidence of functional limits is what turns a diagnosis into an approval.
Preparing the Application

We complete the application and supporting forms carefully. Social Security compares what you say about your health and your finances at every stage, so every answer has to line up.
Staying With the Claim

We respond to Social Security's requests, keep your file complete and keep you informed. If the claim is denied, we review the decision with you and talk through the appeal right away.

How Income and Resources Affect an SSI Claim

SSI has strict financial rules, and they are checked month by month. Social Security counts most kinds of income, including wages, other benefits and some support you receive from others. Where you live and who pays for your food and housing can also change the amount you receive.

Resources are the things you own, such as cash, bank accounts, investments, land and vehicles. If your countable resources are over the federal limit at the start of a month, you cannot receive SSI for that month. Not everything counts, though. The home you live in and the land it sits on are not counted, and one vehicle used for transportation is generally left out regardless of its value.

These rules surprise many families, especially when an applicant lives with relatives or owns a small piece of property. We review your situation in detail so you know where you stand before you file.

Call (325) 659-2305 to Discuss Eligibility

SSI for Children With Disabilities

SSI for children helps families care for a child who is blind or has a disability. There is no minimum age, and a child may be eligible as early as birth. For a child under 18, the condition must cause marked and severe functional limits. It must also last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death.

When a child lives at home with parents who do not receive SSI, Social Security may count part of the parents' income and resources as if they belonged to the child. This is called deeming. It is one of the most common reasons a child's claim is denied or a payment is lower than expected.

Strong children's claims rely on records from doctors, therapists and schools showing how the condition affects learning, behavior and daily life. We help parents gather that evidence. At 18, Social Security reviews the claim again under the adult rules, and we can help with that change too.

Medicaid With SSI in Texas

For many families, Medicaid is as important as the monthly check. Texas has an agreement with Social Security under which people who receive an SSI cash payment generally qualify for Medicaid automatically. No separate disability decision from the state is needed.

That link means an SSI approval can open the door to coverage for doctor visits, hospital care and prescriptions. It also means losing SSI can affect your health coverage. Changes in income, savings or living arrangements need to be handled with care.

Federal rules also protect SSI recipients who go back to work. Under a provision known as Section 1619(b), some people whose earnings end their SSI cash payment can keep Medicaid. We explain how Medicaid with SSI applies to you and offer guidance on working while receiving benefits, so a new job does not cost you the coverage you depend on.

Why Clients Choose Ty Groat

A Local SSI Lawyer in Abilene, TX You Can Reach

Ty Groat has been licensed to practice law in Texas since December 2009 and opened his own firm in January 2018. He earned his bachelor's degree in Government and Mathematics at Angelo State University and his law degree at St. Mary's University School of Law. He brings over a decade of experience to every claim.

The Law Office of Ty Groat is locally owned and operated. You work with the attorney who knows your file, backed by a friendly staff. The office provides full service case management, from the first application through each stage of the disability process.

Families choose a local SSI lawyer in Abilene, TX because the work is responsive and transparent. Social Security must approve any fee a representative charges for work on a claim. The office explains its payment arrangements plainly before you commit to anything.

2009 Licensed in Texas
2018 Firm opened
ASU Angelo State University
J.D. St. Mary's University School of Law

SSI Help Across Abilene and Surrounding Counties

Limited income is not limited to one town. Ty Groat works with SSI applicants and families from Abilene and across West Texas, from Sweetwater, Ballinger and Brady to Sonora and the rest of the Concho Valley. Clients meet with him at the office in San Angelo.

Many families who need an SSI lawyer in Abilene, TX also have questions that reach beyond one claim. Learn more about our work as a disability lawyer in Abilene, a disability lawyer in Sweetwater, a disability lawyer in Brady and a disability lawyer in Sonora.

SSI is one part of a complete disability practice that also covers SSDI claims, appeals and Social Security retirement benefits. See all of our Social Security practice areas to find the help that fits your situation.

Common Questions About SSI Claims

Do I need a work history to qualify for SSI?

No. SSI is not based on your prior work or a family member's work, and it is funded by general tax revenue rather than Social Security payroll taxes. To qualify, you must be 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability, and you must have limited income and resources. Citizenship and residence rules also apply.

Does owning a home or a car stop me from getting SSI?

Usually not. Social Security does not count the home you live in or the land it sits on, and one vehicle used for transportation is generally excluded regardless of value. Cash, bank accounts, investments, other land and additional vehicles can count toward the resource limit, so we review everything you own before you apply.

Will my child's SSI claim count our household income?

Often, yes. When a child under 18 lives at home with parents who do not receive SSI, Social Security may count part of the parents' income and resources as available to the child. This process, called deeming, can reduce or prevent a payment, so we review your household finances before you file.

Does SSI come with Medicaid in Texas?

Generally, yes. Texas has an agreement with Social Security under which people who receive an SSI cash payment are usually eligible for Medicaid automatically. Some people who return to work and lose their SSI cash payment can keep Medicaid under a federal rule called Section 1619(b). We explain how these rules apply to your case.

Can I receive SSI and SSDI at the same time?

Yes, some people qualify for both. If your SSDI payment is low because your earnings record is modest, you may also qualify for SSI as long as your total income and resources stay within the program's limits. Social Security decides each program separately, so we review your work record and finances together.