Testimonials
Read what our clients say about our work
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Read what our clients say about our work
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LaPorte Law Firm has won thousands of claims and appeals for our clients
Here’s what our clients have to say…
Terry was very helpful with any questions I had and filed all the paperwork required for the appeal. He called me a few days before the court hearing and made sure I had all my questions answered. From the get-go, he was very helpful and friendly, and that is hard to find in a lawyer.
The judge for my case was very tough; however, we were very prepared, which helped a lot. I was getting a lot of push back because of my age; however, I sustained many injuries during my time in the Marine Corps. After the hearing, we weren’t sure how it went because the judge was very tough and hard to read, but a few weeks later, I found out we won our case.
The reason we won is Terry. He made sure everything was well prepared and made sure I knew how to answer the questions that were asked of me correctly. Terry instilled confidence in me months before our court date; his experience and knowledge is the reason we won.
Although I wasn’t sure if hiring a lawyer would be the best thing to do, I’m glad I did, because Terry made the whole process very pleasant. Now I do not have to worry as much anymore, and I am enjoying my life with my family thanks to him!
Panda M.
I became disabled and had to find an attorney. After researching for one in my area, I found that this law firm was best suited for my needs. I contacted them, made an appointment with Kevin LaPorte, and never looked back. My attorney handled everything; we had one meeting and it was done. Yes, there was some waiting, but it was well worth it. His assistant, Sylvia, was very professional, answering all my questions or forwarding them. They would call to see how things are, send me things to fill out, or ask for things to be sent. This was extremely good for me, because I was not very mobile at the time. I would highly recommend this law firm if you need assistance. They handled the case very well and did all the paperwork and filing. I couldn’t be happier.
Cheryl Trevizo
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.
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
Terry LaPorte and his team are the absolute definition of informed, compassionate representation. His years of experience and well-known ethic works within the system to the benefit of his clients. A consummate professional with a top-notch support staff, it just does not get any better. He can wade through the red tape and convoluted SSI system like a hot knife through butter. I highly recommend LaPorte Law Firm to anyone needing this type of representation. In my opinion, this is the only choice in this field of practice.
Sandy Dillon Stroppa
Our experience with La Porte Law Firm was, first and foremost, respectful and very humanitarian. As a lawyer, Mr. LaPorte always kept the goal in mind and worked very hard to have all the relevant information. He reviewed every single record, and we felt very good having him represent our son. We are most grateful to have had a positive outcome since the Social Security rules are so strict.
Gloria Carballo
Terry was extremely helpful. I only wish I had found him much sooner! I actually had another previous attorney, which I dismissed due to negligence and incompetence, but Terry restored my confidence and helped me win my case without having to appeal. Terry and his team did a great job!
Arlene R.
Excellent free consultation. The firm carefully studied my case, and I won! I was only charged after winning and didn’t have to pay out of pocket, because the fee was taken out of my disability payment. The only downside was the wait for my hearing, but that’s more on the SSA side. It took about 18 months.
Walt E.
THE BEST THERE IS IN HIS FIELD
Terry LaPorte and his team are the absolute definition of informed compassionate representation. His years of experience and well known ethic works within the system to the benefit of his clientele. A consummate professional with a top notch support staff, it just does not get any better. He can wade through the red tape and convoluted SSI Disability system like a hot knife through butter. I highly recommend the Law Offices of Terry LaPorte to anyone needing this type of representation. In my opinion, this is the ONLY choice in this field of practice.
Sandy Dillon Stroppa
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 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.
I am so grateful to LaPorte Law Firm for the expertise, guidance, and professionalism with which they handled my claim, helping me get the most positive outcome I could possibly hope for! The system seemed daunting and overwhelming to me at the beginning, but Terry LaPorte took the time to talk through the details of my case on several occasions before we started and helped familiarize me with the process.
Elena Cahalan
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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.
How it works:
- Complete the form so we can learn more about your situation.
- We will reach out within 48 hours to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney.
- If your case can be pursued, we’ll start working on it.
- We only get paid if your case is approved.
How we can help:
- Free case evaluation by an attorney
- Social Security Disability Insurance application
- Social Security Disability Insurance appeal
- Disability hearing preparation
NO FEES UNLESS YOU WIN.
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.
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.
