Why You Need a Medical Source Statement
Everyone filing a disability claim has to show medical evidence of a condition that keeps them from working. A Medical Source Statement is one of the most useful pieces of that evidence.
Read articleServing Austin & Central Texas
A Social Security Disability attorney in Austin, in your corner from the start
Dan Wimmer helps disabled people apply for SSDI and SSI and appeal denied claims. He takes cases at the very first application, not just after a denial, and he handles every case himself.
- Involved from the first application
- Every case handled personally by Dan
- SSDI & SSI is all this office does
No upfront cost. You pay a fee only if your claim is won.
Proud member
- Upfront cost
- $0Upfront cost
- Directly with Dan
- 1-on-1Directly with Dan
- Our only focus
- SSDI & SSIOur only focus
No fee unless you win
Representation on a contingency basis, with no upfront money.
Free consultation
A no-obligation claim evaluation, most of it by phone.
Handled by Dan personally
No call center and no handoff to junior staff.
Where we can help
Social Security Disability is all this office does. Here is where most people start.
SSDI Benefits
For people who worked and paid into Social Security. Based on your work credits and medical condition.
Learn moreSSI Benefits
A needs-based program for people with limited income and resources and little or no work history.
Learn moreDenied Claims & Appeals
Most initial claims are denied. A denial is not the end. There is a 60-day window to appeal.
Learn moreWhat sets this practice apart
Most firms wait for a denial. We start at the first application.
Roughly two-thirds of initial applications are denied. Many of those denials trace back to avoidable mistakes made before an attorney was ever involved. Getting help at the start is the best chance to file a clean, well-supported application the first time.
Social Security receives well over 1.5 million disability applications a year, and the backlog of pending claims has often approached a million. In a system that stretched, an application that is complete, consistent, and free of errors from the start is far less likely to get lost or denied on a technicality.
A big part of that is your medical record. Social Security weighs it more heavily than anything else. We coach clients on how to describe their symptoms to their doctors so the record reflects the real limits on their ability to work.
How we work- Involvement at the initial application, not just after a denial
- Coaching on how to describe symptoms so they reach your medical record
- A single-focus practice: SSDI and SSI only, no other case types
- Every case handled personally by Dan, from first call to final decision
Legal Articles
Answers to the questions people ask most
Plain-language writing on how disability claims really work. Start with the topic that fits your situation.
Is Your Condition Severe Enough to Qualify for Disability Benefits?
Under Social Security’s rules, a job is generally full-time work: eight hours a day, five days a week. Understanding what "severe" means is the first step to understanding your claim.
Read articleMy Social Security Disability Claim Has Been Denied
Filing a disability claim is an uphill battle, and a large share of initial claims are denied. A denial letter is not the end of your case. In many ways it is the beginning.
Read article
Meet Dan Wimmer
Dan came to Social Security Disability law after watching a family member struggle to get the benefits they had earned. Four decades of business and legal experience taught him how to work carefully through complicated rules, and this practice puts that experience to work for people who are often facing the hardest stretch of their lives.
He believes informed clients make better decisions, so he takes the time to explain how Social Security actually evaluates a claim, in plain language, without the jargon.
More about DanConditions we help with
Social Security looks at how a condition limits your ability to work, not the diagnosis alone. These are some of the conditions we see most often.
Back and Spine Conditions
Chronic back pain, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and nerve root compression.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and other conditions that limit exertion and stamina.
Neurological Conditions
Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, and the lasting effects of stroke.
Respiratory Conditions
COPD, chronic asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and other conditions that limit breathing and stamina.
Mental Health as a Secondary Impairment
Depression and anxiety that develop alongside a physical disability and add to your work-related limits.
Where we practice
Based in Austin, Dan represents SSDI and SSI claimants throughout Central Texas. You do not need to come to the office; most of the work is handled by phone.
AustinRound RockCedar ParkGeorgetownSan Marcos
Areas we serve Common questions
How long will a disability claim take?
There is no single answer. A claim can move quickly or take many months, and if it goes to a hearing it can take longer still. What you can control is how carefully the claim is prepared from the start.
Why should I even use an attorney?
Consulting us costs nothing, so start there. But be clear about what an attorney does. Much of the process is Social Security reviewing your claim, and there can be long stretches where little seems to happen. That quiet does not mean nothing is being done.
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI benefits?
SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income.
What happens after I file for Social Security disability benefits?
After you file (filing online is a good option), your local Social Security office confirms your intent to seek benefits and starts the process.
Talk with Dan about your claim
Every consultation is free, and there is no obligation. You pay no attorney fee unless your claim is won. Most of what we need can be handled over the phone.