Disability Lawyer Serving Aransas Pass and Aransas County, Texas

The Law Office of Kathleen L. Day represents Aransas Pass and Aransas County residents in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. Our Corpus Christi office is right here in the Coastal Bend, and we've spent our careers helping South Texas families secure the disability benefits they and their families deserve. If you've been denied or you're ready to file, call us at (361) 286-5766 for a free case evaluation. 

SSD Claims in Aransas Pass and Aransas County 

Aransas County residents who file for SSDI or SSI have their initial applications reviewed by the Texas Disability Determination Services (DDS), the state agency that gathers medical records and evaluates claims on behalf of the Social Security Administration. When a claim is denied and a hearing is requested, Aransas County cases are routed to the San Antonio SSA Office of Hearing Operations, located at 10222 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78216, for an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing. The current wait time for a hearing in the San Antonio office is 8 months.   

County-level data gives Aransas Pass claimants a clearer picture of what they're up against. A denial at the initial level is not the end of your case. Most successful disability claims are won at the ALJ hearing stage, not on the first application. 

The Corpus Christi local SSA field office at 3801 S. Port Avenue, Corpus Christi, TX 78415, serves Aransas Pass residents for in-person filing and account questions. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

How Aransas Pass Workers Qualify for Disability Benefits 

Aransas Pass sits at the intersection of commercial fishing, shrimping, maritime trades, oil and gas support, and coastal tourism. These are physically demanding industries, and when a serious injury or progressive illness ends someone's ability to work, the financial impact reaches the whole household. The types of work that define this community also shape the disability claims we see. 

Commercial Fishing, Shrimping, and Maritime Trades 

Workers in commercial fishing and shrimping face repetitive physical demands: hauling gear, working on uneven boat decks, and sustained heavy lifting. These occupations produce high rates of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly rotator cuff tears, shoulder impingements, and lumbar spine damage. SSA evaluates these under its musculoskeletal Listings (1.15 and 1.18) and through Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessments for conditions that don't meet a listing exactly. Maritime workers also face occupational exposure to loud equipment and diesel fumes, which can produce qualifying hearing loss (Listing 2.10) or respiratory conditions including COPD (Listing 3.02). 

Oil Field Support and Coastal Industrial Workers 

Aransas County's proximity to the South Texas oil and gas corridor means a significant share of local workers have spent careers in physical, high-exposure roles: equipment operators, rig support crews, construction laborers, and dock workers. Back and spine disorders from these occupations are among the most common qualifying conditions we see across the Coastal Bend. Degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis all have pathways to approval under SSA's musculoskeletal listings or through RFC-based findings under the Medical-Vocational Grid Rules, particularly for claimants over age 50. 

Tourism, Hospitality, and Retail Workers 

Tourism and hospitality workers who have spent years on their feet in hotels, restaurants, and shops are at elevated risk for knee, hip, and lower back conditions that limit sustained standing and walking. When these conditions reach the severity that prevents eight-hour workdays, SSA's RFC framework evaluates whether any jobs exist that the claimant can still perform given their age, education, and work history. For older workers in this category, the Grid Rules often favor a finding of disability. 

Your ALJ Hearing: Which Office Handles Aransas County Cases? 

The SSA schedules ALJ hearings at locations throughout the country based on the residence of claimants. Claims originating in the Corpus Christi field office of the SSA will be scheduled at the San Antonio OHO located at 10222 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78216 for an Administrative Law Judge hearing if your initial application and reconsideration are denied. 

Current average ALJ hearing wait time for Aransas County claimants: 8 months.That wait is one of the hardest parts of the process. Back pay covers the period from your disability onset date, so the time spent building and fighting your case is not financially lost. 

At the hearing, the ALJ reviews your complete medical record, hears your testimony about daily limitations, and typically calls a vocational expert (VE) to testify about what jobs someone with your limitations could still perform. Challenging VE testimony effectively is one of the most important things an experienced SSD attorney brings to a hearing. If the VE's description of available jobs doesn't accurately reflect your actual functional limitations, those jobs don't count. We scrutinize every hypothetical SSA poses to the VE. 

How the Law Office of Kathleen L. Day Helps Aransas Pass Claimants 

Attorney Kathleen L. Day was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1986 and has dedicated her entire career to Social Security Disability and SSI advocacy for South Texans. She grew up in the Coastal Bend. She has represented claimants from Aransas Pass and Aransas County for decades, including workers from the commercial fishing and shrimping industries that have defined this part of the coast. Aransas County is not a remote service area for our firm. It's home territory. 

Attorney Liana Gonzales, admitted to the Texas Bar in 1995, works alongside Kathleen to serve our Coastal Bend clients. Both attorneys are members of NOSSCR (the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives), the professional association specifically for SSD advocates. Membership reflects a commitment to disability-specific practice, not SSD as a side item on a general litigation menu. 

Here's what representation with our firm looks like in practice: 

• Free case evaluation: we review your work history, medical situation, and any prior filings before you commit to anything. 

• We prepare and file your initial application or appeal, gathering and organizing all medical records. 

• We coordinate with your treating physicians to get the functional documentation SSA actually needs, not just a diagnosis list. 

• We represent you at your ALJ hearing, including preparing you for VE testimony. 

• Contingency fee: you pay nothing unless we win. SSA regulates and caps the fee at $9,200.  

• We don't close your file after a denial. We stick with you through reconsideration, hearing, Appeals Council, and federal district court if that's what it takes. 

Call us at (361) 286-5766 or contact us online to start your free case evaluation. Our office is at 1001 Santa Fe Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78404, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. 

Quick Reference: Process and Fee Information 

The following items are condensed here for compliance. Compress to an accordion-FAQ component in the CMS: (1) SSDI requires work credits earned through FICA taxes; SSI is need-based with no work history requirement. (2) Four appeal stages after a denial: Reconsideration, ALJ Hearing, Appeals Council, Federal District Court, each with a 60-day deadline from the prior denial. (3) Federal court for Coastal Bend claimants falls under the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division. (4) Contingency fee: you pay nothing upfront. SSA regulates and caps attorney fees at 25% of back pay up to a set maximum of $9,200. (5) If you've been denied, the 60-day appeal deadline is firm. Missing it restarts the clock. 

Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every disability case is different. For advice about your specific situation, contact a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or representative. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.