Attorney Stanley Denman has devoted his law practice to representing people seeking Social Security Disability benefits in Dallas-Fort Worth since 1991. From its Garland office, Denman Law Office represents disabled people in Garland and nearby North Texas communities through Social Security Disability claims, appeals, and Administrative Law Judge hearings. Clients work directly with Mr. Denman, whose practice focuses exclusively 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 Garland, another city in Texas, or anywhere else in the country.
But where you live in Garland can still matter in a Social Security Disability claim. Access to medical care, local Social Security offices, the North Dallas hearing office, transportation, and community resources can all play an important role in preparing a strong disability case. If you live in Garland and are disabled, we hope this information is helpful.
Medical Care When You Have No Medical Insurance in Garland
Securing medical treatment in Garland 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 https://www.disabilityapproved.com/extended-medical-benefits-cobra-for-disabled-texans/ for specific advice and information about COBRA benefits in the state of Texas.
Garland 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 Garland 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 Garland 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, Garland 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 Garland. This can be a challenge for those accustomed to more personalized medical care via traditional insurance. The care at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, or the indigent clinics is not, however, “subpare”: its just a very different experience than the medical service delivery you have had in the past.
Important for Garland residents: confirm your county first
Garland is mostly in Dallas County, but some Garland addresses may fall in Collin County or Rockwall County. This matters because county-based indigent health care is usually handled by the county where you live.
Dallas County: Parkland Financial Assistance
Collin County: Collin County Indigent Health Care Program
Rockwall County: Rockwall County Indigent Health Care
Call first and be ready to provide documents such as proof of county residence, photo ID, income information, and household information.
Hope Clinic of Garland
Hope Clinic provides medical care and resources for healthy living to underserved Dallas County residents. Garland residents who are uninsured or having trouble accessing regular medical care may want to contact Hope Clinic to ask whether they can become a patient and what documents or application materials are needed.
Hope Clinic of Garland
800 South Sixth Street, Suite 100
Garland, TX 75040
Phone: 469-800-2500
Current posted hours:
Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Parkland Garland Health Center and Parkland Financial Assistance
For Garland residents who live in Dallas County, Parkland Health is an important starting point for medical care when insurance is unavailable or difficult to afford.
Parkland’s Garland Health Center provides healthcare for children, adults, and seniors. Services listed by Parkland include physicals, preventive care check-ups, sick visits, chronic disease management, acute care, laboratory services, radiology, pharmacy, nutrition services, and behavioral-health services by referral. Parkland also has financial counselors available at Garland Health Center during posted financial counseling hours.
Garland Health Center
802 Hopkins Street
Garland, TX 75040
Main: 214-266-0700
Pharmacy: 214-266-0662
Current posted hours:
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on major holidays
Walk-in clinic hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parkland financial counseling hours at Garland Health Center:
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mental Health Treatment Near Garland: Metrocare Services
Mental health treatment can be important in a Social Security Disability claim based on depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, trauma, substance use disorders, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and other mental-health conditions.
Metrocare Services provides mental-health, developmental-disability, crisis, homeless and housing, veterans, and related support services in Dallas County. For Garland residents in Dallas County who need mental-health treatment and cannot afford private care, Metrocare may be an important place to ask about services.
Metrocare Skillman Family Mental Health Clinic
9708 Skillman St
Dallas, TX 75243
Phone: 214-221-5433
Current posted hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Metrocare administrative offices:
Main: 214-743-1200
Toll-free: 877-283-2121
After-hours crisis services:
214-743-1215
County-Based Indigent Health Care Outside Dallas County
Most Garland residents will start with Dallas County resources such as Parkland. However, some Garland residents may live in Collin County or Rockwall County. Because county-based indigent health care is handled by county of residence, those residents may need to contact their own county program instead.
This section is only for Garland residents whose home address is outside Dallas County. If you live in Dallas County, Parkland Financial Assistance is usually the better starting point for county-based medical care.
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
Collin County says this program provides health care services to qualified adult indigent residents of Collin County. Proof of income and resources is required to determine eligibility.
Rockwall County Indigent Health Care
1101 E. Yellowjacket Lane, Suite 120
Rockwall, TX 75087
Phone: 972-204-7620
Current posted hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please call to schedule an appointment.
Rockwall County says its Indigent Health Care Program determines eligibility for health care services and covers only medically necessary services. Applicants should call first for an eligibility screening.
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 Garland and North Texas resources may help disability claimants find practical local support while their claim is pending.
Transportation for Disabled Garland Residents: DART Paratransit
Getting to doctor appointments, Social Security offices, hearings, or community services can be difficult when a medical condition limits a person’s ability to drive or use regular bus or rail service.
DART Paratransit Services provides origin-to-destination, door-to-door public transportation for people with disabilities who are unable to use DART’s regular bus or rail services. Garland is one of the DART member cities where Paratransit service is available.
DART Paratransit Services
Reservations / Where’s My Ride / Subscriptions: 214-515-7272
Paratransit Certification: 214-828-6717
Customer Relations: 214-828-6736
Service area:
DART Paratransit is available in DART member cities, including Garland.
Current posted service information:
Paratransit operates on a daily schedule comparable to DART fixed-route bus and rail service.
Web booking is available 24 hours a day.
Live scheduling hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Aging, Disability, and Local Support: Dallas County ADRC
Some Garland disability claimants may need more than medical care. They may also need help finding benefits, housing resources, long-term support, caregiver help, transportation options, or services that can help them live safely and independently.
The Dallas County Aging & Disability Resource Center serves as a single point of access to long-term care services and supports in Dallas County. It helps older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, families, and others connect with local resources.
Dallas County Aging & Disability Resource Center
Appointments: 1-888-743-1202
Email: dallasadrcreferrals@metrocareservices.org
Current posted contact guidance:
Dallas County ADRC says appointments are preferred and asks people to call before visiting. It also says it does not accept walk-ins.
Independent Living Support: REACH Dallas
Some Garland disability claimants may need practical help staying independent at home and in the community while a disability claim is pending. This may include help finding local resources, understanding disability-related services, building independent living skills, or dealing with accessibility problems.
REACH Dallas is part of REACH Centers for Independent Living. REACH’s independent living program helps people with disabilities build skills, confidence, and independence, and connects people with community resources and disability-related support.
REACH Dallas
7929 Brookriver Dr, Suite 550
Dallas, TX 75247
Phone: 214-630-4796
Email: reachdallas@reachcils.org
Current posted service note:
REACH says its programs are designed to help people build skills, make choices, and live more independently in the community.
Housing and Homelessness Help in Garland and Dallas County
Housing instability can become a serious problem for people waiting on Social Security Disability. If a person cannot work because of a medical condition, missed rent, eviction risk, unstable housing, or homelessness can make it harder to keep medical appointments, receive mail from Social Security, and prepare a disability claim.
For Garland residents who are homeless or at immediate risk of losing housing, help usually starts through local service providers and the Dallas/Collin County homeless response system. The City of Garland supports homelessness programs through Emergency Solutions Grant funding, but the City does not determine individual eligibility or provide direct financial, rental, shelter, or housing assistance to residents.
Housing and homelessness starting points for Garland residents
Housing Forward Homeless Crisis Helpline: 1-888-411-6802
Metro Relief Street Outreach: 214-705-3555
Under 1 Roof — rapid rehousing assistance for people experiencing homelessness: 214-298-4002
If domestic violence is involved:
Hope’s Door New Beginning Center
24-hour crisis hotline: 972-276-0057
Office: 972-422-2911
Important:
Services, shelter availability, eligibility, and funding can change. Call first before traveling to an office or shelter.
Charitable Assistance and Basic Needs Help in Garland
While a Social Security Disability claim is pending, everyday expenses can become difficult to manage when a person is disabled and unable to work. Garland residents may need help with food, clothing, hygiene items, utilities, and other basic household needs.
The following resources offer starting points for assistance or referrals. Services depend on the organization, your location, eligibility, and available funding. Call first to confirm what help is available and what documents you may need.
Basic needs starting points for Garland residents
2-1-1 Texas — local assistance referrals: Dial 2-1-1
Good Samaritans of Garland — food assistance: 972-276-2263
Friendship House: 972-272-1010
Salvation Army Garland: 972-272-4531
Garland Utility Customer Service — payment arrangements and assistance information: 972-205-2671
Important:
Hours, eligibility, and available funding can change. Call first before visiting an office or pantry. Good Samaritans provides food assistance and referrals, but does not provide rent, utility, or direct financial assistance.
Building a Better Future: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Support for Garland Residents
The state of Texas – through the Texas Workforce Commission – has vocational rehabilitation and job training services available to Texas residents. Very few Tarrant County 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? They also may 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 Tarrant County 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 useful 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, and 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 ALJs 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 knows you have been 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. Sometimes Texas Workforce Commission workers – when presented with a potential client who has filed a claim for social security disability – look for a statement from that potential client that they “are disabled”. I recommend that you think carefully about how you explain your situation. You do not need to claim that you are capable of working, nor do you need to insist that you are incapable of any work. You can accurately explain that you cannot perform your past work and do not know whether vocational rehabilitation could enable you to perform some other type of work. Here is a typical statement that could serve your interest:
“My attorney has told me that I have the right to vocational rehabilitation services. I cannot do my old job, and I really cannot see other work that I can do, but I want to explore whether I could be trained to do a new job.”
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 employment support: Garland Workforce Center
530 Clara Barton Blvd., Suite 270, second floor
Garland, TX 75042
Phone: 972-276-8361
For VR services, use the TWC contact above to find the appropriate counselor. You can also call the Garland Workforce Center to ask about local employment support and connection to VR staff. Confirm arrangements before visiting.
Social Security Administration Office for Garland
Garland 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, while some situations require an appointment.
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.
Confirm the office location, current hours, and required documents before traveling. Use your address or ZIP code in SSA’s office locator to find nearby offices.
Before visiting a Social Security office
National SSA phone: 1-800-772-1213
TTY: 1-800-325-0778
Good to know:
Call to confirm whether your question or request can be handled online, by phone, or through an appointment. Explain what you need help with and ask which documents to bring. If you need a new or replacement Social Security card, confirm the correct process and location before visiting.
Dallas Social Security Administration Office — North Central Expressway
Address:
10824 N. Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75231-1004
SSA contact phone: 1-800-772-1213
Current posted hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday.
This office appears in SSA’s locator results for Garland. Its listing asks visitors to schedule an appointment before coming to the office. Call first to confirm the arrangements, required documents, and any holiday or temporary closures.
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 Garland 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 Garland 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 Garland Texas
Free Consultation – Call Us!Schedule a 15-minute phone strategy session
Additional Garland Texas Disability and Insurance Statistics
Garland Texas has a Slightly higher Percentage of Adult Residents getting Social Security Disability
Workers
Disabled workers
Garland has a high number of people who have no medical insurance.
Persons with health insurance, under age 65
Persons without health insurance, under age 65
Garland is ethnically diverse
A higher percentage of Garland residents identify as non-white compared with Texas and the United States as a whole.
Race “Other than White”
More Garland Household speak a Language other than English
English spoken at home
Language other than English spoken at home
Garland Resident are Computer/internet Savvy
See all the areas we serve across North Texas.