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…

Mr. Terry LaPorte won my case for me several years ago. He was extremely patient and diligent. After feeling inadequate for years of people questioning my health, Mr. LaPorte truly cared about my chronic conditions. I still regularly email and he calls me to talk about all my questions. I definitely trust Mr.LaPorte; he is incredibly sweet and I feel at ease knowing that I am always protected when it comes to my SSI.

Samantha

I don’t think I would have won my case without Terry LaPorte. It took four years for my case to be approved, but my stress level was immediately lowered as soon as I turned my case over to him. I found Terry to be professional, straightforward, and honest. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience in disability law. The first time we met, I asked him if he thought I’d win my case, to which he responded that he didn’t take cases unless he thought he could win. I appreciate his tenacity and highly recommend him as an attorney. He is the lawyer you want representing you.

Madge W.

Kevin LaPorte was instrumental in obtaining my Social Security Disability benefits. My benefits had been denied previously and I felt defeated, but Kevin was optimistic and gave me hope. Kevin and his staff were always very courteous and professional, willing to answer questions and to ease my anxiety. My daughter was my support person throughout this process and Kevin had no problem keeping us both up to date on my case. He is a very capable and caring individual who advocates aggressively for his clients. I wish Kevin continued success and recommend him highly.

Adrian Nopez

Great Lawyer
Mr. Laporte is very professional and I liked that he would contact me and be very detailed and kept me updated all along the case. His office is very professional and replied to all my emails within 24 hours or sooner.

Anonymous

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

Terry went above and beyond to get my brother approved for his Social Security benefits — jumping through many hoops in what should have been an easy process that was complicated by the unusual circumstances of the case. He fought through red tape and managed to get a successful outcome. His integrity and work ethic are fantastic!

Debbie Klahr

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.

Terry LaPorte is an amazing disability attorney. After fighting for disability benefits with another attorney for five years and being denied my benefits, I decided to switch attorneys and was fortunate enough to find Mr. LaPorte. After carefully reviewing my case for free, he gave me clear actions to take to help strengthen my case. He kept me informed throughout the process and was always willing to listen and answer my questions in a thorough and timely manner. Once I had a court date, it took the judge five minutes to look at my paperwork and decide in my favor. Terry is a professional, skilled, and caring attorney. I would highly recommend him to anyone trying to get their disability benefits.

Henry O.

LaPorte Law Firm has helped me, my family, and my friends. They work very hard to help their clients, they are very friendly and knowledgeable, and they truly care. I have been very pleased with them and have recommended my friends and family to call Kevin LaPorte. I have recommended the LaPorte Law Firm to six of my friends, and they are all very happy with the results of their cases.

Harry D.

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.

As I watched the judge raise her eyebrow at the mention of Terry LaPorte’s name, she quickly stated, ‘Oh, Terry LaPorte? I recall him being successful in quite a few cases…’ I felt proud to have him available to me and to people like us. The feeling of despair and uneasiness changed instantly. When I met him for the first time, I took note of all his awards and got to see how knowledgeable he is. If you are looking for the top attorney, Terry is my pick.

Christina T.

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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