Social Security Disability • SSD, SSDI & SSI
Portland Social Security Disability Applications, Made Less Overwhelming
If a physical or mental condition keeps you from working in Portland or the metro area, our disability team helps you apply for benefits the right way from the start. If you have already applied and were denied, we can also guide you through the appeal process.
Our Firm
Experienced Social Security Disability Application Team
Brian Goode
&
Justin Idiart
When you cannot work because of a health condition, the future can feel uncertain. You may be worried about income, medical care, and how long the Social Security process will take in Portland and beyond.
The Social Security Disability programs, including SSDI and SSI, were created to provide support to people in your situation. Our job is to help you apply in a clear and complete way so Social Security can understand your story.
Idiart Law Group has been helping injured and disabled people for over 25 years. Our team has guided more than 15,000 clients and serves disability clients in Portland, throughout Oregon, and nationwide with a team-based approach and a focus on honest care, clear advice, and a smart plan for each case.
Our disability practice has achieved approvals for our clients at a rate above 80 percent, compared to a national average of about 36 percent for disability claims. While every case is different and results are never guaranteed, this experience helps us understand how to build stronger applications.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Questions About Applying for SSDI or SSI? We Can Help.
The Social Security Disability system is complex. Many people in Portland are unsure how to start an application or what to include. Common questions are: “Do I qualify?”, “Which program should I apply for?”, and “What information does Social Security really need?”
Idiart Law Group helps you make sense of the process. Our disability team works with you to prepare your application, gather the right records, and meet Social Security’s rules and deadlines so you do not have to do it alone.
When we review your situation, we look at:
- Your current ability to work and earn a steady income
- The severity and impact of your medical or mental health conditions
- Your medical records, test results, and treatment history
- Your age, education, and past jobs
- Whether you may qualify for SSDI, SSI, or both
Our goal is to help you submit an application that clearly shows how your conditions limit your ability to work and why you may qualify for disability benefits.
Free Review of Your Disability Application
In the three Portland area counties, 27,595 disabled workers were on benefits in December 2024. Many more likely qualify but feel too overwhelmed to apply or give up after trying on their own.
If you cannot work because of a health condition in Portland or anywhere in Oregon, you do not have to guess your way through the application. Talk with our disability team. We will listen to your story, review where things stand, and explain your options at no cost.
When you contact us, you can expect:
- Free, no obligation disability case review
- Help understanding what Social Security will look for in your application
- Guidance on what information and documents you will need
- A clear plan for the next steps in your case
Idiart Law Group works on a contingency fee basis for disability cases. There are No Fees Unless We Win. For most SSD cases, attorney fees are capped at 25 percent of your past-due benefits and must be approved by Social Security under federal law. You do not pay an attorney fee if there is no recovery.
FREE SSD BENEFITS CONSULTATION
More than 8 Million Americans qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits.
HOW IT WORKS
Applying for Disability Benefits With Idiart Law Group
Applying for Social Security Disability is not just filling out a form. It is about telling your full story in a way that fits Social Security’s rules. Here is how we guide you through the process if you live in Portland or anywhere else we serve.
Step 1
Verify Eligibility
We learn about your health conditions, symptoms, and treatment. We also review your work history and income. Then we explain which programs you may qualify for, such as SSDI, SSI, or both, and what Social Security will expect to see in your Portland disability application.
Step 2
Build the Evidence
We help gather your medical records, test results, and other important documents. We work with you to explain how your conditions affect your daily life and your ability to work in Portland or wherever you live. Tell us about every doctor and clinic.
Step 3
File Your Application
We complete and file your application, including the main forms and any extra questionnaires. By Social Security's estimate, a first decision generally takes 6 to 8 months. We handle its mail so you can focus on your health in Portland.
Step 4
Pursue the Claim
After your application is filed, we monitor your case and respond to Social Security’s requests. If your claim is denied, we review the decision with you, file the appeal if you choose to move forward, and prepare you for any hearing so you know what to expect, whether you are in Portland or elsewhere in our service area.
Step 1
Verify Eligibility
We learn about your health conditions, symptoms, and treatment. We also review your work history and income. Then we explain which programs you may qualify for, such as SSDI, SSI, or both, and what Social Security will expect to see in your Portland disability application.
Step 2
Build the Evidence
We help gather your medical records, test results, and other important documents. We work with you to explain how your conditions affect your daily life and your ability to work in Portland or wherever you live. Tell us about every doctor and clinic.
Step 3
File Your Application
We complete and file your application, including the main forms and any extra questionnaires. By Social Security's estimate, a first decision generally takes 6 to 8 months. We handle its mail so you can focus on your health in Portland.
Step 4
Pursue the Claim
After your application is filed, we monitor your case and respond to Social Security’s requests. If your claim is denied, we review the decision with you, file the appeal if you choose to move forward, and prepare you for any hearing so you know what to expect, whether you are in Portland or elsewhere in our service area.
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 Application Questions
My doctor thinks I may be able to work again in about a year. Can I still apply for disability?
It depends on how long the condition keeps you from working. For adults, your condition must affect your ability to work for a year or more, or be expected to result in death. It must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months. A hoped-for recovery date is an estimate, so what your records say about the timeline matters. Ask your doctor to write the expected course in your chart. Our disability team reads the records with you and tells you whether applying now makes sense.
How do I earn the work credits that SSDI looks at?
By working and paying Social Security taxes. In 2026, you earn one credit for each $1,890 in wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits a year. You generally need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years ending with the year your disability began. The dollar figure changes each year. Our disability team looks at your earnings record and counts your credits with you before the application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) goes in.
Why do some disability applications take longer than others?
Social Security names four things. The time depends on the nature of your disability, how quickly it can get medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source, whether you need to be sent for a medical exam, and whether your application is picked for a quality review. You control part of that. Keep your address and phone number up to date, and go to any exam Social Security schedules. Our disability team sends complete provider details with the application and answers requests quickly.
What should I pull together before applying for disability in Portland?
Start with your medical sources. Social Security asks for full contact details for every doctor, clinic and hospital. Add your work history, your education and training, and notes on what your days looked like before and after your condition changed. Do not hold off until the list is perfect. Social Security itself says to apply as soon as you become disabled. Give our disability team what you have, and we request the records and fill the gaps in your Portland application.
My husband and I are both disabled and have very little income. What is the most SSI pays a couple?
The maximum monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment for 2026 is $994 for an individual and $1,491 for a couple. Your payment may be lower based on your income, your living situation and other factors. To get SSI, a couple's resources should not be more than $3,000. The home you live in and one vehicle per household are left out of that count. These amounts change each year. Our disability team goes over your income and resources with you and files for each of you.
Idiart Law Group in Portland
- Portland overview
- Portland Car Accident Attorneys
- Portland Disability Appeal
- Portland Disability Hearing
- Portland Dog Bite Lawyers
- Portland Medical Malpractice Lawyers
- Portland Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Attorneys
- Portland Personal Injury
- Portland Slip & Fall Injury Lawyers
- Portland Social Security Disability
- Portland Truck Accident Lawyers
- Portland Wrongful Death Lawyers