Social Security Disability • SSD, SSDI & SSI
Denied for Social Security Disability in Portland? We Handle Appeals.
A denial is not the end of the road. Across Portland and Multnomah County, our disability team reviews the decision, gathers stronger evidence, and takes your appeal through each step.
Our Firm
A Disability Appeal Team That Stays in the Fight With You
Brian Goode
&
Justin Idiart
Most Social Security Disability claims are denied at first. That does not always mean you do not qualify. It often means Social Security did not see enough medical evidence, did not fully understand your limitations, or misapplied its own rules to your situation in Portland or elsewhere. Oregon approved 9,729 of 26,399 first applications in fiscal 2026.
At Idiart Law Group, we focus on helping people who cannot work because of physical or mental conditions. For more than 25 years, our attorneys and staff have represented injured and disabled clients in Portland, throughout Oregon, and nationwide, guiding them through complex systems like Social Security Disability.
Our disability appeal team knows how frustrating a denial can be, especially after the care you put into explaining your situation. We step in to review what went wrong, strengthen the evidence, and present your case in a clearer and more complete way on appeal.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Turn a Disability Denial Into a Plan for Appeal
A denial letter can be confusing and discouraging. You may wonder if it is even worth appealing, or if you should simply start over. The reality is that many people in Portland and across the country who are eventually approved for disability benefits were denied at least once before.
Idiart Law Group helps you understand your denial and map the way ahead. When we review your disability appeal, we look at:
- The reasons Social Security gave for denying your claim
- Whether important medical evidence or records were missing
- How your symptoms and limitations were described in your forms
- Whether Social Security correctly applied its rules to your age, education, and past work
- Whether you are at the reconsideration, hearing, or later stage of appeal
After this review, we explain your appeal options in clear language and outline a strategy to strengthen your case.
Free Review of Your Denial and Appeal Options
If you received a denial for SSDI or SSI, you do not have to face the appeal process alone. Social Security gives you four chances to appeal, each generally with a 60 day deadline, and the way you respond to the denial can affect the rest of your case.
Our disability team offers a free evaluation of your denial letter and your case for people in Portland and throughout Oregon. We will:
- Examine your denial and explain what it really means
- Identify missing evidence or problems in your initial application
- Discuss whether an appeal, new application, or both may make sense
- Outline the next steps and what to expect at each stage of the appeal
Idiart Law Group handles Social Security Disability cases on a contingency fee basis. That means No Fees Unless We Win. Attorney fees in most SSD cases are a percentage of past-due benefits and must be approved by Social Security. If there is no recovery, you do not pay an attorney fee.
FREE SSD BENEFITS CONSULTATION
More than 8 Million Americans qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits.
HOW IT WORKS
Appealing a Social Security Disability Denial With Idiart Law Group
A strong appeal is more than simply saying “I disagree.” It means correcting gaps in your file, responding directly to Social Security’s reasons for denying you, and clearly showing how your conditions prevent you from working. Here is how we help.
Step 1
Review Your Denial and Deadlines
We carefully review your denial letter, your initial application, and any forms Social Security used in making its decision. We also confirm important deadlines so your right to appeal is protected. Then we explain, in plain language, what went wrong and what we can do next for your Portland disability appeal.
Step 2
Strengthen the Evidence
We help gather missing medical records, test results, and statements from your providers or people who know you. We work with you to better explain your symptoms, limitations, and day-to-day challenges so that Social Security sees the full picture of how your conditions affect your ability to live and work in Portland.
Step 3
File the Appeal
We prepare and file the appeal paperwork that applies to your stage of the process, such as a request for reconsideration or a request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Our team handles forms, follow-up, and communication with Social Security for your Portland disability appeal.
Step 4
Pursue the Claim
If your case goes to a hearing, we help you understand what to expect, what the judge may ask, and how to clearly talk about your conditions and work history. We appear with you at the hearing, whether you live in Portland or elsewhere in Oregon and present arguments and evidence in support of your disability claim.
Step 1
Review Your Denial and Deadlines
We carefully review your denial letter, your initial application, and any forms Social Security used in making its decision. We also confirm important deadlines so your right to appeal is protected. Then we explain, in plain language, what went wrong and what we can do next for your Portland disability appeal.
Step 2
Strengthen the Evidence
We help gather missing medical records, test results, and statements from your providers or people who know you. We work with you to better explain your symptoms, limitations, and day-to-day challenges so that Social Security sees the full picture of how your conditions affect your ability to live and work in Portland.
Step 3
File the Appeal
We prepare and file the appeal paperwork that applies to your stage of the process, such as a request for reconsideration or a request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Our team handles forms, follow-up, and communication with Social Security for your Portland disability appeal.
Step 4
Pursue the Claim
If your case goes to a hearing, we help you understand what to expect, what the judge may ask, and how to clearly talk about your conditions and work history. We appear with you at the hearing, whether you live in Portland or elsewhere in Oregon and present arguments and evidence in support of your disability claim.
Ways We Can Help
Car Accident
If a careless driver hurt you or someone you love, we’re here to step in. Our team deals with the insurance company, gathers the evidence, and fights to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, and the impact on your life.
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Social Security Disability
When a health condition keeps you from working, getting SSD benefits shouldn’t be another battle. We guide you through applications and appeals, handle the paperwork and deadlines, and work to prove your disability so you’re not facing the system alone.
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Slip & Fall
Falls on unsafe floors, stairs, or walkways can cause serious injuries. We hold negligent property owners accountable and pursue compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering.
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We handle many types of cases, including:
- Personal Injury
- Car Accident
- Social Security Disability
- Catastrophic Injury
- Dog Bite
- Disability Application
- Disability Appeal
- Disability Hearing
- Pedestrian Accident
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home
- Slip & Fall
MEET OUR TEAM
Honest Care • Clear Advice • Smart Approach
Director of Social Security
Brian Goode
Personal Disability Attorney
Justin Idiart
Hearing Representative
Brandon Chapman
Hearing Representative
Breanne Hutchison
Hearing Representative
David Sanders
Customer Reviews
Trusted Attorneys for over 25 years
Social Security Disability in Oregon, by the Numbers
See how many Oregon claims Social Security approves and how long a hearing takes, from the agency's own figures.
See the Oregon numbersPortland Disability Appeal Questions
My denial letter went to my old Portland address and reached me weeks late. Do the 60 days still run from the date on it?
The 60 days run from the date you receive the notice. Social Security assumes you received it 5 days after the date on the notice, unless you show that you did not (20 CFR 404.901). Keep the envelope, the forwarding label and anything else that shows when it really arrived. Not receiving the notice is also one of the examples of good cause in Social Security's rules. Do not count on an extension. Get the letter to our disability team, and we file the appeal and explain the dates.
Who decides a request for reconsideration?
It goes back to the state agency. Reconsideration is the first appeal. An examiner at your state's Disability Determination Services office goes over the request together with your original application. You have 60 days after you receive a denial to ask for it. This is the stage to add what was missing the first time. Tell Social Security about new treatment, new tests and new doctors. Our disability team files the request for you and sends the updated records along with it.
My denial says my condition is not severe. What does Social Security mean by that?
It is one of the reasons Social Security's rules allow for a denial. The condition must significantly limit basic work activities. It must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months or to result in death. A finding like this often comes down to what the medical records did and did not say. Tell Social Security about new treatment, new tests and new doctors. Our disability team reads the denial against your chart and asks your providers for records that describe your limits in detail.
A friend told me to skip the appeal and just file a new application. Is that wise?
Usually not. In most cases, an appeal keeps your original claim alive. Starting over with a new application can mean giving up benefits tied to the earlier filing date. An appeal also has a clock: you generally have 60 days after you receive the decision. Social Security says you may choose an attorney or other qualified person to help with your appeal. Get the denial to our disability team before the 60 days are up, and we tell you which route protects your claim.
I was turned down for SSI, not SSDI. Is the appeal process different?
Largely, it is the same. You can appeal a decision on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and you generally have 60 days after you receive the decision to do it. Social Security gives you four chances to appeal. You may not need all of them. The first is reconsideration, then a hearing with a judge, the Appeals Council, and federal court. Our disability team checks which program your letter is about and files the right appeal for it.
Idiart Law Group in Portland
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