Attorney Stanley Denman has devoted his law practice to representing people seeking Social Security Disability benefits in Dallas-Fort Worth since 1991. Denman Law Office represents disabled individuals throughout Plano and Collin County in Social Security Disability claims, appeals, and hearings. If you are looking for a Plano Social Security Disability lawyer, you will work directly with Mr. Denman, an attorney whose practice is solely focused on Social Security Disability law.
Social Security Disability law is federal law. The same basic rules and regulations apply to a disability claimant living in Plano, another city in Texas, or anywhere else in the country.
But where you live can still matter in a Social Security Disability claim. Access to medical care, transportation, local Social Security offices, the North Dallas hearing office, and community resources can all play an important role in preparing a strong disability case. If you live in Plano or Collin County and are disabled, we hope this information is helpful.
Medical Care When You Have No Medical Insurance in Plano
Securing medical treatment in Plano TX when you are not able to work is a challenge. Most medical insurance is tied to employment: lose your job, and you also lose your medical insurance unless your exercise your rights to COBRA extended benefits. Yet COBRA allows the employer to pass the full cost of the medical policy on to the insured, so the premiums are often very high. See our page Extended Medical Benefits (COBRA) for Disabled Texans for specific advice and information about COBRA benefits in the state of Texas.
Plano residents who qualify for social security disability benefits are eligible for Medicare after 24 months of entitlement to social security disability benefits. Because that coverage is not available while a claim is pending or benefit entitlement has not reached the 24 month mark, finding affordable medical treatment in Plano can remain important both for the person’s health and for documenting the disability claim. But without ongoing medical treatment, it can be harder to prove a disability claim.
Many Plano residents pursue Social Security Disability Insurance benefits at least in part to secure medical treatment through Medicare. But the difficult reality is that without ongoing medical treatment, Plano residents may have trouble winning disability benefits in the first place.
In other words it’s a “Catch-22”: You need the Medicare that comes along with winning a disability case, but in order to win a disability case you have to have medical treatment!
Therefore for the uninsured accessing county “Indigent” healthcare services is vital to a Social Security disability claim in Plano. This can be a challenge for those accustomed to more personalized medical care via traditional insurance. The medical care through indigent clinics is not, however, “subpare”: its just a very different experience than the medical service delivery you have had in the past.
Health Services of North Texas Plano
Health Services of North Texas Plano is a nonprofit community health center serving children, teenagers, and adults. The Plano clinic provides primary care, behavioral-health care, chronic-disease management, infectious-disease care, pediatrics, laboratory services, and access to an on-site pharmacy.
The clinic accepts Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and several commercial insurance plans. It also offers an income-based sliding fee scale for eligible patients with or without insurance. Plano residents who are uninsured or having difficulty affording medical care can contact the clinic to ask about becoming a patient and applying for available discounts.
Health Services of North Texas Plano
5501 Independence Parkway, Suite 110
Plano, TX 75023
Phone: 940-381-1501
Current posted hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
Call before visiting to confirm appointment availability, payment options, and what information or documents you should provide.
Collin County Indigent Health Care Program
The Collin County Indigent Health Care Program provides healthcare assistance to qualified low-income adult residents of Collin County. For an uninsured Plano resident who cannot afford regular medical care, this county program may provide another way to access medically necessary services.
Eligibility is not automatic. Collin County reviews the applicant’s residence, income, resources, household circumstances, and access to other healthcare coverage. Applicants must submit a completed application and the required supporting documents.
Collin County Indigent Health Care Program
825 N. McDonald St., Suite 110
McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 972-548-4702
Current posted hours:
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Friday through Sunday
Call before visiting to confirm the application process, required documents, and current eligibility requirements.
Mental Health Treatment in Plano: LifePath Systems
Mental-health symptoms can make it difficult to work, manage daily activities, and stay connected to medical care. For Plano residents who need treatment but cannot afford private care, LifePath Systems offers a local starting point.
LifePath Systems provides mental-health and substance-use services, including psychiatric care, medication management, counseling, and case management. Its Plano Outpatient Clinic offers walk-in access to services.
LifePath Systems — Plano Outpatient Clinic
7308 Alma Drive
Plano, TX 75025
Appointments and service information:
972-422-5939
Toll-free: 844-544-5939
Current posted Open Access hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call before visiting to confirm intake arrangements and any accessibility or interpreter assistance you need.
24-hour crisis line:
877-422-5939
Getting by While You Wait for Disability Approval
Waiting for Social Security Disability approval can be financially and physically difficult, especially when a person is disabled, not working, and trying to keep up with medical care, transportation, housing, and basic daily needs. The following Plano and Collin County resources may help disability claimants find practical local support while their claim is pending.
Transportation for Disabled Plano Residents: DART Paratransit
Getting to medical appointments, Social Security offices, hearings, or community services can be difficult when a medical condition limits a person’s ability to use regular bus or rail service.
DART Paratransit provides shared rides in accessible vehicles, with origin-to-destination, door-to-door service for eligible people with disabilities. Plano is included in its service area. Confirm both your pickup and destination addresses when arranging a trip, especially for appointments elsewhere in Collin County.
DART Paratransit Services
Reservations / Where’s My Ride / Subscriptions: 214-515-7272
Paratransit Certification: 214-828-6717
Customer Relations: 214-828-6736
Service area:
Plano and other cities within DART’s Paratransit service area.
Booking information:
Live reservations: daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Online booking: available 24 hours a day; book by 5 p.m. for next-day trips.
Confirm current scheduling arrangements, service coverage, and the fare when booking.
Aging, Disability, and Local Support: North Central Texas ADRC
Some Plano disability claimants need help finding in-home care, transportation, meal services, benefits assistance, or support for a family caregiver. Knowing which program to contact can be difficult when health problems and loss of income are already overwhelming.
The North Central Texas Aging & Disability Resource Center serves Collin County and other counties in the region. It provides free information and referrals to help people with disabilities and their caregivers find long-term services and supports.
North Central Texas Aging & Disability Resource Center
Phone: 855-937-2372
Spanish-language assistance is available.
Current posted availability:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For an in-person meeting, call ahead to confirm staff availability and the meeting location.
When calling, explain that you live in Plano, provide your county and ZIP code, and describe the help you need.
Independent Living Support for Plano Residents: REACH Collin
Some Plano disability claimants may need practical help managing daily activities, understanding disability-related services, or addressing accessibility barriers at home and in the community.
REACH Centers for Independent Living provides support to help people with disabilities develop skills, understand their options, and live more independently. Plano residents can contact REACH Collin to discuss their needs and available services.
REACH Collin — serving Plano and Collin County
Phone: 972-398-1111
Before visiting:
Call to confirm the current office location, appointment arrangements, and services available for your needs.
Housing and Homelessness Help in Plano and Collin County
Housing instability can become a serious problem when a medical condition prevents someone from working. Missed rent, eviction risk, or homelessness can make it harder to keep medical appointments, receive Social Security correspondence, and manage a disability claim.
Plano residents who are already homeless can start with the Housing Forward Homeless Crisis Helpline. Those who still have housing but are struggling with rent or utilities can contact the Assistance Center of Collin County to ask about prevention programs and available assistance.
Housing and homelessness starting points for Plano residents
Currently homeless — Housing Forward Homeless Crisis Helpline: 888-411-6802
Rent and utility assistance — Assistance Center of Collin County: 972-422-1850
Residential program inquiries — The Samaritan Inn: 972-542-5302
Additional local assistance referrals: Dial 2-1-1
Before traveling:
Call to confirm intake arrangements, eligibility, accessibility, and availability. The Assistance Center does not accept walk-in appointments for rental assistance; its Plano Homelessness Prevention Program requires an online assessment before an appointment can be scheduled.
Charitable Assistance and Basic Needs Help in Plano
While a Social Security Disability claim is pending, groceries, clothing, household supplies, and utility bills can become difficult to afford. Plano residents who are disabled and unable to work may find practical help through local food pantries, charitable organizations, and assistance programs.
The following resources offer starting points for help. Appointment requirements, eligibility, and available supplies vary, so check the organization’s current instructions before visiting.
Basic needs starting points for Plano residents
2-1-1 Texas — local assistance referrals: Dial 2-1-1
The Storehouse Community Center — food, clothing, and referrals: 469-385-1813
Minnie’s Food Pantry: 972-596-0253
Assistance Center of Collin County — rent and utility assistance: 972-422-1850
Before visiting:
The Storehouse requires appointments for food and clothing. Its food pantry is in Plano, while its clothing closet is in Carrollton. Check each program’s location and intake instructions, and ask about arrangements if your disability makes pickup difficult.
Building a Better Future: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Support for Plano Residents
A disabling medical condition can make returning to work difficult or impossible. Some Plano residents may want to explore whether training, workplace accommodations, or other support could help them pursue suitable employment. Others may be unsure what their health will allow.
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Vocational Rehabilitation program helps eligible people with disabilities address barriers to employment. Very few Plano Social Security disability applicants access these services. This is completely understandable.
They believe they are disabled. Why would they waste their time with vocational rehabilitation services? Plano disability claimants may also believe that seeking and participating in vocational rehabilitation will be viewed by an Administrative Law Judge as an admission of ability to work.
In actuality, it is just the opposite. Applying for vocational rehabilitation services even while you have an ongoing Plano Social Security disability case is a “win-win”:
- The Texas Workforce Commission is not required to accept you for vocational rehabilitation. If for example you have a doctor’s letter with significant restrictions, or if you tell the Texas Workforce Commission officer about your many limitations, they will be unlikely to accept you for vocational rehabilitation services. Now you have a nice record indicating that the restrictions from your doctor or as you alleged are so extensive that there is no work available even with training.
- The Texas Workforce Commission accepts you for vocational rehabilitation. You complete the training successfully, eventually secure a job. This is a better life than being on Social Security disability.
- Most ALJs view your pursuit of vocational rehabilitation as a positive not a negative. To most such efforts are considered to be a sign of your initiative and your reluctance to accept the label of being disabled. Your allegations of symptoms have a bit more credibility when the ALJ sees you were trying to find a way to work.
- The only small caveat is what you present to the Texas Workforce Commission when you apply for vocational rehabilitation services. Be intentionally vague about your assessment of your situation. In general it is best to say that you truly don’t know whether you could do other work but you want to explore the possibility that there is something you could do. This is not an admission of ability to work.
Here is more information about how to directly access vocational rehabilitation services with the Texas Workforce Commission:
Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services
VR office locator phone: 512-936-6400
Email: vr.office.locator@twc.texas.gov
Program and self-referral information: TWC Adult Vocational Rehabilitation
Local access: Plano Workforce Center
1101 Resource Drive, Suite 100
Plano, TX 75074
Phone: 469-229-0099
Email: planoworkforce@dfwjobs.com
Current posted center hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Call the Plano Workforce Center and ask to connect with Vocational Rehabilitation staff. Confirm appointment arrangements and any accessibility assistance you need before visiting. You can also use TWC’s statewide contact above to locate the appropriate VR office.
Social Security Administration Offices for Plano and Collin County
Plano and Collin County residents may need to contact a Social Security field office to ask about benefits, provide documents, check a claim’s status, or handle other Social Security matters. Many services are available online or by phone.
Before visiting, use SSA’s appointment service or call to arrange help. Your appointment may be by phone or in person, depending on the service you need.
The appropriate office can depend on your home address and the service requested. Use SSA’s official locator to confirm which office to contact rather than assuming that either location below handles every Plano resident’s needs.
Before visiting a Social Security office
National SSA phone: 1-800-772-1213
TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Good to know:
Explain what you need help with and ask whether it can be handled online, by phone, or through an appointment. Confirm which documents to bring and mention any accessibility or interpreter needs. If you need a new or replacement Social Security card, confirm the correct process and location before traveling.
McKinney Social Security Administration Office
Address:
3250 Craig Drive
McKinney, TX 75070
SSA contact phone: 1-800-772-1213
Listed office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. Confirm current hours with SSA before visiting.
This McKinney location may be relevant for Plano and other Collin County residents. Use SSA’s office locator or call SSA to confirm whether it is the appropriate location for your address and the service you need.
Dallas Social Security Administration Office — North Central Expressway
Address:
10824 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75231
SSA contact phone: 1-800-772-1213
Listed office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday. Confirm current hours with SSA before visiting.
This North Dallas field office is another nearby location that Plano residents may encounter when arranging Social Security services. Confirm with SSA whether it is appropriate for your address and request. This field office is separate from the North Dallas Office of Hearings Operations discussed below.
North Dallas Office of Hearings Operations
If a Social Security Disability claim is denied and the claimant continues the appeal, the case may eventually be scheduled for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The hearing gives the claimant an opportunity to explain their limitations, while the judge considers the medical evidence and other information about the case.
The North Dallas Office of Hearings Operations is the local hearing office relevant to Plano and Collin County disability claimants. Check your SSA correspondence to confirm which hearing office is handling your appeal. For more information about preparing for this stage of the case, see our guide to Social Security Disability hearings.
SSA conducts hearings in person, by telephone, by agency video using SSA equipment, or by online video using a personal device. Review SSA’s notices with your attorney and respond to any forms about how you will attend. Your hearing notice will explain the scheduled arrangements.
North Dallas Office of Hearings Operations
Social Security Administration
12790 Merit Drive
Building 9, Suite 500
Dallas, TX 75251
Hearing office phone: 866-331-7135
Before traveling:
Follow the location and attendance instructions in your hearing notice. Contact the hearing office if you need to confirm directions, request an accommodation, or arrange an interpreter. A telephone or online video hearing does not require traveling to this office.
Sending documents:
Use the submission instructions and contact information shown on your most recent SSA notice or provided by your attorney. Confirm the correct mailing address or fax number before sending documents because the hearing office’s mailing address may differ from its Dallas street address.
North Dallas OHO Administrative Law Judge Disposition Data
The following table summarizes Administrative Law Judge disposition data for the North Dallas Office of Hearings Operations for the reporting period September 27, 2025, through July 31, 2026.
Table may scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
| Judge | North Dallas Dispositions | Total Dispositions Across All Offices | Decisions | Awards | Denials | Fully Favorable | Partially Favorable | Dismissals | Award Rate | Fully Favorable Rate | North Dallas Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haigler Jr., Whitfield | 331 | 331 | 273 | 268 | 5 | 244 | 24 | 58 | 98.2% | 89.4% | 100.0% |
| Isherwood, Paul | 413 | 413 | 312 | 58 | 254 | 49 | 9 | 101 | 18.6% | 15.7% | 100.0% |
| Kim, Mark | 442 | 442 | 332 | 177 | 155 | 128 | 49 | 110 | 53.3% | 38.6% | 100.0% |
| Kinkade, Jana | 426 | 426 | 337 | 256 | 81 | 213 | 43 | 89 | 76.0% | 63.2% | 100.0% |
| Liken, Joseph | 433 | 433 | 337 | 300 | 37 | 278 | 22 | 96 | 89.0% | 82.5% | 100.0% |
| Nestler, Julie | 402 | 402 | 307 | 98 | 209 | 61 | 37 | 95 | 31.9% | 19.9% | 100.0% |
| Phillips, Derek N. | 454 | 454 | 348 | 240 | 108 | 213 | 27 | 106 | 69.0% | 61.2% | 100.0% |
| Shilling, Ralph F. | 348 | 348 | 278 | 169 | 109 | 155 | 14 | 70 | 60.8% | 55.8% | 100.0% |
| Thomason, Samuel | 302 | 449 | 256 | 165 | 91 | 137 | 28 | 46 | 64.5% | 53.5% | 67.3% |
| Walters, Charles | 445 | 445 | 372 | 318 | 54 | 293 | 25 | 73 | 85.5% | 78.8% | 100.0% |
| Wheeler, Thomas | 429 | 429 | 325 | 160 | 165 | 122 | 38 | 104 | 49.2% | 37.5% | 100.0% |
Attorney Denman has represented disability claimants at the North Dallas Office of Hearings Operations for many years and can advise Plano clients about preparing for a hearing and considering hearing options, including in-person, audio/telephone, agency video, and online video hearings.
Social Security Disability Lawyer for Plano and Collin County
Free Consultation – Call Us!Schedule a 15-minute phone strategy session
Additional Plano Disability and Insurance Statistics
Plano has a much lower percentage of adult residents receiving Social Security Disability than Texas and the United States as a whole.
Workers
Disabled workers
Plano has a lower percentage of residents under age 65 without health insurance than both Texas and the United States as a whole.
Persons with health insurance, under age 65
Persons without health insurance, under age 65
Plano is ethnically diverse
A higher percentage of Plano residents identify as non-white compared with Texas and the United States as a whole.
Race “Other than White”
More Plano households speak a language other than English at home than the U.S. average, but fewer than Texas overall.
English spoken at home
Language other than English spoken at home
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