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Read what our clients say about our work

Testimonials

Read what our clients say about our work

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After over 40 years of service,

LaPorte Law Firm has won thousands of claims and appeals for our clients

Here’s what our clients have to say…

Best Attorney and staff I ever met !
Terry Laporte and his staff were incredibly professional in handling my SSDI case from beginning to the end. Even after winning my case Terry called me personally to follow up on any issues or questions I had. I will continue to give referrals to Terry and his awesome staff. Terry thanks again for helping other people and myself for a better future.

Jeff

I came to California after filing for disability and being denied in another state. I was then denied twice in California as well, before being referred to Terry LaPorte. He is great — easy-going but very intelligent. I have to admit, after being turned down over three times, I had my doubts. I was on mental health medication and just couldn’t deal with things anymore. Many days, I could not even manage to take a shower. It was grim. It is difficult to make it in California with no money and no place to live. I don’t know what I would have done had I been denied again. It seemed like there was no way out of my situation, but I am forever grateful for Terry believing in me and going to bat for me. I feel like I can live a little now. Thanks, Terry!

Gina S.

Dear Laporte Law Services,

I am writing this letter to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to your esteemed firm, with special attention to Maria, for the outstanding assistance and support provided during my disability case.

When I first approached your firm, I was overwhelmed and unsure of how to navigate the complexities of the legal system. However, from the very beginning, Maria’s exceptional expertise and compassionate approach instilled a sense of confidence and reassurance in me. She listened attentively to my concerns, thoroughly analyzed my case, and diligently worked toward achieving a positive outcome.

Throughout the entire process, Maria displayed unwavering dedication, professionalism, and an unparalleled commitment to ensuring my rights were protected. Her in-depth knowledge of disability law, attention to detail, and strategic approach were instrumental in building a strong case. I was continually impressed by her ability to anticipate challenges and proactively address them, all while keeping me informed and involved at every stage.

Thanks to Maria’s exceptional legal skills, tireless efforts, and unwavering support, we achieved a victorious outcome. Winning my disability case would not have been possible without her expertise and guidance. I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the outstanding job she did, and the profound impact it has had on my life.

In addition to Maria, I would also like to extend my appreciation to the entire team at Laporte Law Services. Your firm’s commitment to excellence, professionalism, and client-centered approach is truly commendable. The exceptional level of service I received from everyone involved in my case, including the support staff, reflects the high standards and values of your organization.

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your outstanding legal representation and for helping me navigate the complexities of my disability case. I am forever grateful to Maria and the dedicated team at Laporte Law Services for their unwavering support, exceptional expertise, and ultimately securing a favorable outcome.

Please convey my appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Maria for her outstanding work. I will wholeheartedly recommend Laporte Law Services to anyone seeking exceptional legal representation.

With sincere gratitude,

Sean Schnoor

You are nothing but the best and have changed my life . I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Laporte Law firm 😁😁😁

Sean Schnoor

I would recommend LaPorte Law Firm to anyone to help you through the Social Security Disability process. They are very helpful and professional.

Michael Mcnulty

Wow! I am so impressed with Mr. LaPorte. He is the kind of man you hope for when you need a lawyer. I did a fair amount of research on Bay Area lawyers who handle disability and found that most firms don’t want to take your case until it’s time for an appeal, because they make more money that way. But that is not in your best interest. I went to Terry before starting my SSDI application. He took my case, did all the upfront work, and I was approved in three months. I seriously doubt that I would have had such a great result if Terry was not in my corner. He is clearly about helping people, and not just making money. I am so grateful to him.

Keith C.

If you want someone who knows the law and can get through the red tape of the government with absolute honesty and the highest level of integrity, then contact Terry LaPorte. I have never been so impressed with a team. From the receptionist and paralegals to the lawyers, everyone I dealt with was able to help me, answer all my questions, and leave me feeling empowered and knowledgeable. I was denied three times previously. Then, when I was being represented by Terry, after the judge heard the complete truth, my case was approved in 10 minutes. I thank Terry LaPorte and his team for helping me through a stressful time.

Kim W.

I filled out the online request for information on their website the day after Thanksgiving. I didn’t expect to hear from anyone until Monday at the earliest but at around 4:30 p.m., I got a call from Mr. LaPorte personally. He wasn’t even at work, but he happened to check his email and saw my request. He listened to my issues, answered some questions, and set up an appointment for the following week. I had not done an initial application for Social Security or anything yet, and Terry and his staff helped me every step of the way. They made me feel like I had a whole team on my side and made the whole process so easy. My disability is not readily apparent but no one there treated me with doubt or anything other than respect and kindness. It was a wonderful experience, and I won my benefits in only five months. I have recommended Mr. LaPorte to several people seeking Social Security benefits and will continue to do so.

Robin P.

Kevin and Sylvia were extremely supportive, professional, and courteous throughout the entire appeals process. Kevin is not an overly aggressive attorney, but he is very experienced and knowledgeable about the process, and I believe that is why he wins favorable outcomes. He prepared me for the very long and invasive appeals process. He answered all of my questions and gave me very good advice on how to answer all of the judge’s questions. I would highly recommend LaPorte Law Firm to anyone who needs a knowledgeable, professional, and supportive attorney to help with Social Security Disability.

Cedric Strickland

I was Lucky to find Kevin LaPorte for my Social Security needs. I knew I would not be able to continue working with my health issues, so I made an appointment with him. He is a very nice guy, honest and straight to the point. I would recommend him to anyone needing help and can’t work any longer. Kevin is the guy to go to, because he is an honest, standup guy who will fight for you.

Bill R.

Excellent experience working with Mr. LaPorte
Terry LaPorte handled my brother’s case in qualifying for Social Security benefits in 2010. He was able to obtain the benefits we were seeking. He is able to break down the complexities of the system in a way that my family could understand easily. I would recommend him to anybody that needed help with social security benefits. He goes a long way to make sure that your needs are met.

Michael

You will not find a more dedicated disability attorney
I cannot say enough great things about Terry. He has decades of specialized legal knowledge and experience in the area of disability law and it shows. In addition to his level of competence, he is such a genuine person. He regularly demonstrated how much he cares about me. One of the things I particularly appreciated is how responsive he was to my numerous inquiries. He consistently responded to me in a very timely manner, whether it was responding with an email or calling me on the phone. Attorneys often do no show this level of professionalism and so it’s refreshing to work with an attorney who does. I prevailed in my disability claim. It was not a straightforward claim, as it involves an «invisible disability.» Terry was able to present convincing arguments during my disability hearing and I could tell how experienced and confident he is in that environment. After my hearing, he would track the status of my case and keep me updated whenever there was any movement in the process. I could tell by his actions that he was dedicated to fulfilling my interests and would do whatever it took to assure I prevailed.

Jennifer

My experience with this professional firm was just that — professional — which is unfortunately lacking in many businesses these days. I found Mr. LaPorte to be extremely helpful, kind, and ready to assist and answer any and all questions. I highly recommend the LaPorte Law Firm if you’re looking for an honest, sincere, and hardworking firm.

Mrs. Victor J.

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Frequently Asked Questions

SSDI is a disability insurance program financed by your Social Security paycheck deductions. Unless prohibited by your age, you must have worked a total of 10 years (40 quarters), 5 of which must be within the last 10 years (20 of the last 40 quarters). In order to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have earned FICA-taxed wages during this work period.

For Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, no work time is required at all. There are, however, limits to eligibility based on how much property you own or money you have in the bank, as the SSI program is aimed at individuals who lack income or resources and are disabled. Benefits are paid as a flat rate, and the amount may be reduced if you receive any money or assistance from any source.

With both SSI and SSDI, you must be found disabled. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees both programs and defines disability as being unable to perform any “substantial gainful activity.”

No, SSDI can be seen as a safety net. It will pay monthly benefits to you based on the amount of money that you have already paid into the system through employment taxes.

If your claim is approved upon the first attempt, the process should take just a few months. However, it should be noted that only approximately one-third of claims are approved on the first filing. As such, most applicants need to go through the appeal process to secure their benefits. If your claim is then approved after an appeal to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, delays of a year or more before benefit payment commences are also common.

Attorney’s fees are 25% of the first retroactive payment to you by the SSA; however, the fee is capped at US$7,200 regardless of the amount of money you are owed by the SSA. After November 30, 2024, the maximum attorney’s fees are capped at $9,200. There is no one-off or ongoing fee after you win your case. As the SSA can take several years to adjudicate a disability claim, disability claimants are often entitled to a large check for retroactive benefits for the period in which they were waiting for their claim to be decided. Our fees automatically come out of that first retroactive check, so our clients never have to pay us directly.

If your application is rejected on your first attempt, as is the case for many first-time applicants, you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible. An appeal must be filed using the proper forms within 60 days of the date of the denial decision. Your chances of winning an appeal are greatly enhanced by retaining a firm that specializes in Social Security law.

The monthly amount you will receive depends on factors such as age, past earnings, and type of benefit. The law allows retroactive pay up to 12 months prior to the month of a disability application. To get a better idea of your situation, it is advisable to consult the SSA’s benefit calculator.

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At LaPorte Law Firm, we only receive a fee if you win your case – so you have nothing to lose. We’re with you every step of the way.

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Award-winning service

Equipped with years of experience and thousands of successful cases, LaPorte Law Firm is the leading disability attorney in the Bay Area, and we have the awards and certifications to prove it.

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Everything You Need To Know About
The Social Security Disability application process