Finding a Social Security Disability Lawyer in Oregon

Good news: You don't have to pay anything right away. Disability lawyers only get paid if you win your case and get disability benefits. Your lawyer will take their fee out of the "back benefits" you get.  

"Back benefits" are the payments that add up while you wait for your disability claim to be approved. 

If a lawyer helps you, they can take up to 25% of your back benefits as their fee. But there's a limit on the total amount they can take. In 2024, they can't take more than $7,200. This limit goes up a little each year. 

1. Search online: Type "social security disability lawyers near me" into Google, Bing, or another search engine. Look at the lawyer's ratings and what people say about them online before you decide to contact them.  
2. Call the Oregon Public Benefits Hotline: This is a free service where you can get brief help with disability benefits. You can also get a referral to a private disability attorney by calling this number.  
3. Use Oregon's Lawyer Referral Service: This is a free service for finding a lawyer who handles disability cases.   

Before you meet a lawyer:  

• Read reviews: See what others have said about the lawyer or their law firm online. 
• Look for lawyers who offer free first meetings: Most disability lawyers offer a free consultation.   
• Check their license: Look attorneys up in the Oregon State Bar Lawyer Directory to check their "discipline history." You may want to steer clear of attorneys who have gotten in trouble in the past.

At your first meeting with your potential lawyer:

• Ask questions: Learn how much they'll help with your case. Ask if they will talk to your doctor, handle the paperwork, and collect your medical records. Some lawyers might ask you to do more of this work yourself. 
• Understand costs: Some lawyers will pay for things like doctor's reports themselves and ask you to pay them back from your back pay. Others might ask you to pay for these costs as they happen. Make sure to find this out up front.

Finding the right disability lawyer in Oregon doesn't have to be complicated. By following these steps, you can find someone who will work hard to get you the benefits you deserve. Remember, a good lawyer can make a big difference in your disability benefits case.