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…

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 can’t recommend LaPorte Law Firm highly enough. After four long years, two denials, and finally a hearing, I was awarded disability benefits thanks to their dedication and expertise. My case was complex and required constant record updates, but attorney Kevin LaPorte and legal assistant Sylvia Marichalar guided me every step of the way. They always responded quickly, eased my worries, and gave me confidence to keep going through an overwhelming process.

When it came time for my hearing, Kevin’s preparation and deep experience made all the difference. He helped me know what to expect and supported me in presenting my case clearly and confidently. Even after I received a favorable decision, Kevin took the time to explain what it meant for my future.

I’ve since referred friends to LaPorte Law Firm in Oakland because they are truly a beacon of hope for people navigating the Social Security Disability process. They combine professionalism, compassion, and genuine care for their clients — qualities that mean everything when you’re facing one of life’s most uncertain moments.

Rachel Newell

Overall, my experience was great. At first, I was worried and stressed about my particular case and the complicated process, but this firm, particularly Kevin LaPorte, made it easy. He was always accessible by phone and very communicative on the details. He had prompt responses to the many questions I had and I felt very confident in the firm’s knowledge and experience in Social Security Disability law.

Preston Skeath

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.

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

I was very down on my luck and got an appointment set up with LaPorte Law Firm. The lawyers were straight shooters. I appreciate them being very generous with their time and preparing me for the worst-case scenario. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone serious about their court case.

Eyez V.

Emeryville, CA

During the most painful and vulnerable time in one’s life, it is comforting to have LaPorte Law Firm providing security and guidance in an arena that is so stressful and confusing. It’s always done with extreme grace, calmness, and respect for those who need it most in their trying times. I can’t thank them enough for taking care of me and reminding me that people do care. I feel blessed to have found them, especially Mr. LaPorte. What a gentleman in a sea of gruffness.

Elizabeth Rafietari

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

The Understanding, Professional, and Diligent Mr. LaPorte
Mr. LaPorte (Terry) has been my only and best experience working with a lawyer. I was initially really scared to apply to SSI because I thought my chronic health was not adequate enough. Mr. LaPorte worked with me in every way possible and was extremely professional. He always understands my concerns about questions I have with SSI now. I feel very at ease when my anxiety is high about reporting duties. Thank you so much Mr. LaPorte.

Samantha

Kevin is a wonderful attorney. He helped me win my case and stuck with me through it all. I truly appreciate everything he did for me, and strongly recommend his services to anyone going through a hard time trying to obtain their benefits. He is your guy!

Shirley Etter

LaPorte Law Firm is awesome. They stood by me until my case was finished and we got what was owed to me. I can’t thank them enough. I would totally recommend them to anyone in need.

Sue Sarno

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Begin the onboarding process with LaPorte Law Firm if your case is taken on by the legal team.

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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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