Testimonials

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…

What a great, experienced attorney. During my free consultation, he gave me all the information I needed. He was honest, helpful, and professional. No doubt, he is very skilled and experienced.

Victim O.

LaPorte Law Firm is very good at what they do. The application process for a Social Security Disability claim can be a long, complicated, and stressful experience, but LaPorte made the entire process so much easier for me. They’re the best!

Thomas Gardner

Terry LaPorte is the person you want in your corner, representing you, fighting for you, and helping you navigate the SSDI system. I could not be happier, as Terry was wonderful to work with. He was always very professional, polite, courteous, extremely patient, and always taking the time to answer all of my questions in a timely manner and never making me feel like he was rushed or that I was asking a stupid question. He set reasonable expectations and never left me feeling like I was going through the process alone, as I had been prior to calling his office.

I chose him over the countless other options available, because out of the four offices I called, his staff was the friendliest and Terry called me back himself the very next day to discuss everything prior to me making any commitment. He was the only lawyer that called personally and in less than 24 hours. All of the other places wanted me to do the same endless paperwork and submit it to be reviewed to see if I was worthy of scheduling a call with their lawyer several days or a week later. When you are in a very time-sensitive situation, that is a terrible system. But it seemed to be the standard everywhere else. After spending about 30 minutes with him on the phone, I knew he was the lawyer for me; we agreed it was a good fit and then did the paperwork. He always put my needs first and delivered what I had given up on. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with LaPorte Law Firm, so I will just say thank you!

Darren Anderson

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

I was very lucky to have Kevin LaPorte represent me in my disability case. Apart from being extremely professional and knowledgeable when it comes to disability laws, he was very sensitive to my particular situation, always responding promptly to my emails or phone calls and never leaving any of my questions unanswered. He was with me all the way throughout the disability hearing and even after a favorable decision was reached in my case.

Igor S.

LaPorte Law Firm helped me with my case from start to finish. They explained every detail to me and answered every question I had. They were on top of my case and helped me get through it with much less stress on my part. I recommend them to anyone who is looking for professional help on their claims.

Divina Mendoza

I had a warm, caring, understanding, and knowledgeable lawyer in Mr. Terry LaPorte. He was amazing in getting my papers submitted and keeping me informed of the progress of my case. I also needed some advice on another case of mine, and he was always there to give me advice (even when he was about to board a plane to go to another case). Just an amazing lawyer.

Donna Arevalo

You’re in good hands with Terry LaPorte
I had total confidence in Terry from the beginning, greatly reducing my stress level. My private plan disability attorney highly recommend Terry LaPorte for my SSI disability claim. He was great every step of the way.
Things were thoroughly yet concisely explained to me from beginning to end. He assembled the forms and evidence. His office received directly from SSA, copies of all the forms I had to send in. They prompted me to do them otherwise I might have missed them in the mail. Then they sent the forms in for me. Handled everything. No mystery no worry.
Just be sure you follow his instructions and don’t try to do things the way you think it should be done. He knows what he’s doing. I followed his advice including what to do and not do during the hearing. It went smoothly, only a few easy questions for me… and we WON!

Stan

I want to thank Mr. Terry LaPorte and his staff for their support. Their know-how and expertise in this area are immense, and their guidance every step of the way was crucial in moving things forward. I am very happy and grateful to have worked with Terry and his staff.

Deepa J.

Mr. LaPorte handled a case for me and did a superb job. He made the process straightforward and easy for me to understand, and everything was handled in a professional manner.

Cory Brown

I have known Terry LaPorte for over 20 years. When I had to have back surgery in 1998, Terry was highly recommended by a friend that Terry had also represented in a successful manner. From the moment I met Terry and his staff, I knew that I was in good hands. Within a short time, I was receiving my disability benefits. I was able to return to work five years after surgery; however, in 2017, I required Terry’s services once again, and within three to four months I was again receiving my disability benefits.

Ernie Zito

If problems arise when dealing with Social Security Disability, calling LaPorte Law Firm is the best thing you can do. Professional, experienced, confident, and reassuring are a few words I’d use when recommending them.

Mitch Boo

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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