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About Us - Law Office
of Gerard Lynch

Social Security Lawyer in Houston

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Gerard Lynch

Gerard Lynch, founding attorney and longtime resident of Houston, Texas, went into the area of Social Security law when a close family member began suffering from a disability. Mr. Lynch realized that there was a need for disabled individuals to have a competent, empathetic, and devoted attorney on a disability case after he had personally experienced the process with his own family. After more than 30 years representing disabled people, Mr. Lynch believes that he has truly made a difference for disabled Texans.

After one year of graduate school in Clinical Psychology, Mr. Lynch decided to pursue a career in the law. He graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1985. He is a past president of the Houston Bar Association Social Security section, and has spoken throughout his career concerning social security topics. He graduated from high school in Central America and speaks Spanish. He is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives and is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas.

Odilia Ponce

Odilia Ponce has worked in Mr. Lynch’s Social Security disability practice for over 25 years. She is passionate about getting disabled people the benefits they deserve and expertly helps people navigate the often-confusing Social Security system. Born in Mexico, Odilia is a native Spanish speaker. She often visits and cares for her parents at their ranch near Houston and enjoys spending time with her three children and seven grandchildren. Our office frequently receives compliments from clients about her patience and helpfulness.

Bryan LaVergne

Bryan LaVergne is a certified EDPNA and has worked with Mr. Lynch to represent Social Security claimants since 2018. Originally from Port Arthur, Texas, Bryan is passionate about representing disabled clients and is especially skilled at articulating complex medical issues. Before entering Social Security practice, Bryan worked in a laboratory setting doing biomedical research. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Biology at the University of Houston and is currently a law student in the evening program at the University of Houston Law Center. Bryan is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives NextGen section.

Jane Foreman

Jane Foreman is a certified EDPNA and has worked with Mr. Lynch to represent Social Security claimants since 2020. A native Houstonian, Jane graduated summa cum laude from Antioch College in 2017. Jane’s approach to disability is informed by caring for a disabled parent and living with an invisible disability. At night, Jane is a law student in the evening program at the University of Houston Law Center. Jane is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives NextGen section, the Disability Law Society at the University of Houston Law Center, and the National Lawyers Guild.

Client Testimonials

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This case was my first time hiring a lawyer but I am glad that the attorney I chose worked diligently with me to help me get the results I was looking for. I am confident in letting the law offices of Gerard Lynch handle my business when needed, and I will be contacting this office when or is there is another matter that I need handled. I, Alexander Foster, am very satisfied with the outcome of my case. The Law Office of Gerard Lynch and I worked together and we achieved the goal that we were striving for. I am so thankful.

Alexander Foster,
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The best and foremost compliment I can give this firm is the fact that I didn't have to come in to the office and overall my case was handled very expeditiously. Thanks for a job well done on my behalf.

Kathy Brown,
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We need more lawyers like Mr. Lynch with an understanding heart and mind. May God bless you and your staff. I enjoyed working with Mr. Lynch and thank you so very much.

M. Robertson,

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be disabled permanently to receive Social Security Disability (SSD)?

A claimant needs to be disabled for at least 12 months or have a medical condition that is terminal or expected to lead to death. Sometimes a claimant is not disabled permanently. In a certain time frame, when they are disabled from working, they could qualify for disability benefits.

It is possible, but rare to receive benefits without any medical evidence to back up your claim. If you do not have recent medical records, it is much harder to win a case. There is a possibility, though not common, that your case might be approved simply by going to a consultative exam by the SSA, where a doctor gives you a physical or mental examination.

One benefit of working with our office is that we will look carefully at your case. If you do not have enough current medical evidence for your claim, we can often give you information about low-income or indigent health services that can help establish a medical record for a low cost or free.

No fees, unless we win your claim! Our law firm, the Law Office of Gerard Lynch, only charges our clients if we win their SSD or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. We charge on a contingency basis, 25% of the back pay awarded to a claimant when we win the case. As of Summer 2024, our fee is capped at $7,200. The fee cap is set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for all representatives, and is periodically adjusted for inflation just like monthly SSD and SSI benefits. Social Security pays us directly so our claimants don’t have to write a check. If we do not win a case, we do not charge anything no matter how much work we have done. Once a client wins and their monthly checks begin, they will keep 100% of their checks.

Social Security Disability (SSD) comes from FICA taxes that are deducted from paychecks during the work history of a person. Every month that a person works and reports income to the government, taxes are deducted which are paid into social security. When FICA taxes are taken out of paychecks, most of it goes into the general Social Security retirement fund. However, a smaller portion goes into the general Social Security disability fund.

Contrary to popular belief, no one has an account set up with the SSA by default, even though all Americans are required to pay taxes into social security. People who become disabled over their lifetime and are not yet eligible to get their full-age retirement benefits can get benefits from the disability fund. They’ll need to apply for these benefits and get approved to receive them.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a different program for disabled people and it is like a form of welfare. More specifically, it is for people who are either too young to have paid enough into the system or have not worked recently enough to receive Social Security Disability (SSD). To receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a claimant has to be equally disabled as a person who receives Social Security Disability (SSD) – the standard for determining disability is the same. One of the main differences in deciding which claimant receives Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) comes from the amount of money paid into the Social Security system over one’s lifetime.

It should also be noted that SSI carries much stricter income and resource qualifications for someone to get approved and maintain these benefits.

If you have any additional questions that we did not answer above, please get in touch with our team at The Law Office of Gerard Lynch. Unlike the larger Social Security disability lawyers of Houston, our office will make sure you’re treated as more than just a claim. Let our attorney review your disability claim and help you seek the peace you deserve.

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