Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Christy Bieber, J.D. ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Written By Christy Bieber, J.D. ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Christy Bieber, J.D. ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
ContributorAdam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.
Updated: May 1, 2023, 2:56am
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Texas has a substantial number of disabled people living within the state’s borders. In fact, a 2019 report revealed that Texas has the second largest number of disabled individuals of all the U.S. In total, 11.8% of the Texas population has a disability.
In many cases, these disabilities prevent Texans from earning income to support themselves. When that happens, it is important to understand the availability of disability benefits.
This guide to Texas disability benefits in 2024 explains all of the options available so if you or a loved one is disabled, you can get the money you need and deserve.
In a minority of states, there are state-based disability benefits programs open to the general public. Texas is not one of those states.
This does not mean there are no available protections for disabled workers, though.
Employees of the state of Texas and some higher education institutions can choose to enroll in the Texas Income Protection Plan to get short-term and long-term disability coverage. Workers who are employed by private companies may be able to get disability insurance either as an employment-related benefit provided by their companies or they can choose to purchase disability insurance directly from private insurers.
Texas employers who contract with government entities are required to provide workers’ compensation, although workers’ comp isn’t required for all employers (unlike in most other locations throughout the U.S.). For employees whose companies are required to or have chosen to buy workers’ compensation insurance, temporary or lifetime income benefits may be available in case of full or partial disabilities resulting from the performance of job tasks.
Workers in Texas can also qualify for federal disability benefits available through the Social Security Administration. These benefits can be an important lifeline.
Many insurers offer disability benefits coverage to Texas residents. Your employer may pay or subsidize premiums and allow you to enroll as one of your workplace benefits (similar to the way you may buy health or life insurance through your employer). You can also choose to shop around for private disability insurance coverage on your own.
If you have a disability policy in place before you become too disabled to work, you are able to make a claim as long as you meet your policy’s definition of disabled. Some policies cover both short-term and long-term disabilities while others cover only one or the other. The specific percentage of income your policy replaces will also depend on the terms of your policy.
Check with your insurance carrier about the application process to take advantage of this option.
If your employer has opted into (or is required to participate in) the workers’ compensation system, this is a source of Texas disability benefits in 2024 if you become sick or hurt as a direct result of your job duties. If you qualify, you could receive:
If you hope to receive these benefits after suffering a work-related injury in Texas, talk with a Texas workers’ compensation lawyer. Your attorney will help you understand which benefits you are eligible for and will assist you in navigating the workers’ compensation system.
Texas residents may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits if they meet the requirements. There are two different benefits programs offered through the Social Security Administration to disabled individuals. They include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSDI benefits are earned benefits. You can earn up to four work credits per year when you work and pay Social Security taxes. If you have earned enough work credits (the specific amount you need is determined based on your age when you become disabled), you qualify for SSDI benefits. They are not means tested, so you can get them even with substantial financial resources.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must:
If you qualify, your benefits will equal a percentage of average wages earned. You can apply online for benefits, but should know many people initially have their claims denied so you may need to go through an appeals process. A disability benefits lawyer can help.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to disabled people as well as to blind people and people over the age of 65. It’s based on financial need, though, so if your income is too high or you have $2,000 or more in countable resources (or $3,000 as a couple), you won’t qualify for these benefits.
The requirements to qualify with a disability are generally the same as for SSDI recipients in terms of needing a long-term qualifying disabled condition. However, unlike SSDI, the monthly income you receive isn’t determined by past wages but is instead set by law. In 2023, you can get up to $914 but this is reduced if you have countable earned or unearned income.
An experienced disability benefits lawyer will assist you in identifying all of the potential Texas disability benefits in 2024 that are available to you. If you cannot work due to a medical issue, reach out to an attorney ASAP to get help finding benefits that will provide for your needs.
If you are receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, you will receive an 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment in 2023. COLAs are built into the benefits program to automatically increase your benefits when a certain consumer price index reveals that prices have gone up. Your benefits increase is based on how much inflation is shown by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
You cannot qualify for SSDI if you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. In 2023, this is defined as earning at least $1,470 for individuals who aren’t blind or $2,460 for blind individuals. SSDI is not a means-tested benefit, though, so if you aren’t personally earning money but you have a lot of income in your household (or a lot of financial resources), you could still get SSDI provided you meet all the requirements for it.
Disability benefits in Texas usually come from the Social Security Administration through SSDI or SSI. There is a strict definition of disabled that you have to meet to qualify for these benefits programs. Many people find their claim is denied, at least initially, but they get it approved through an appeals process with help from a disability benefits lawyer.