The Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing provides trusted legal representation to the disabled in their fight for Social Security and other disability benefits throughout Southern California.

The Firm seeks to enforce the rights of the disabled to benefits at all levels of administrative and court review within the following areas:

• Social Security Disability (SSD)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Cessation
• Disabled Widows or Widowers
• Disabled Workers

Nobody ever expects to become disabled, but it can happen in an instant. A traffic accident, an on-the-job injury, catastrophic illness, reaction to medication, heart attack or stroke can result in a musculoskeletal, cardiac, respiratory, urologic, muscle, psychological or mental impairment that can prevent a victim from working. Whatever the condition or the cause, if you, or a family member, are no longer able to work, you may be entitled to benefits.

There are so many different kinds of conditions that can lead to disability that it is impossible to list them all, but some include:

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Loss of vision
• Loss of hearing
• Cancer
• Lung and respiratory problems
• Asthma
• Lupus
• Bipolar disorder
• Liver disease
• Arthritis
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Depression
• Disabling injuries

The Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing handles over a thousand Social Security disability claims annually - representing claimants for Social Security disability before the SSA at the initial application, on reconsideration, at hearings before the Office of Hearings and Appeals, before the Appeals Council on request for review and before the courts.

Unfortunately, the initial application for disability benefits is often routinely denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing represents claimants whom the SSA has wrongfully denied through all levels of appeal. The Firm's attorneys have a proven track record for their superior handling of disability claims. Clients are provided a free consultation on disability claims and offered representation on a contingency fee basis; meaning if you are seeking disability benefits, there will be no charge for attorney fees unless your case is successful.

"Lawyers from all over California request that our attorneys take over representation at the Appeals Council, the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals. The work of our Firm has led to decisions from the courts that have changed the way in which the Social Security Administration must adjudicate claims for disability benefits from the District Court, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court."

-The Law Offices of Lawrence Rohlfing

If you or someone you know in Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, or the surrounding areas of Whittier, La Mirada, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Downey and Cerritos, needs the assistance or trusted legal advice of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer, please call the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing today at (866) 639-3365, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free initial consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Most attorneys do not handle Social Security disability and/or SSI cases because attorney fees are set and limited by law and the field is highly technical. This requires experience with many different types of Social Security claims and a continuing and exhaustive study of the changes and modifications in the law as they occur.

The outcome of your Social Security disability claim will affect the rest of your life, for better or for worse. Therefore before you hire a Social Security lawyer, take time to make certain that he/she is an expert. Do not hesitate to ask frank and probing questions about the nature and extent of their Social Security claim representation.

Social Security Disability (SSD):
Social Security provides disability insurance benefits to those who have worked and paid Social Security taxes and have become disabled. In order to receive benefits, the claimant must establish 1) that the disabling condition makes it impossible to perform any substantial work, and 2) that the disability is expected to last at least a year, or until death.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
Social Security provides SSI benefits for those who are severely disabled but not eligible to receive Social Security disability insurance benefits, usually because they did not work long enough in Social Security covered employment to establish eligibility. SSI differs substantially from Social Security disability. The benefits are lower, there is no provision for dependent or survivors benefits and the disabled person cannot own substantial assets or have substantial income from any source.

Cessation:
This involves the involuntary termination of Social Security disability or SSI benefits based usually on a determination that the disabling condition does not exist or no longer exists and/or, in the case of SSI, that the disabled person's income and/or assets are too substantial to warrant benefits.

If you or someone you know in Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, or the surrounding areas of Whittier, La Mirada, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Downey and Cerritos, needs the assistance or trusted legal advice of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer, please call the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing today at (866) 639-3365, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following information includes frequently asked Social Security Disability questions. The answers stated are general in nature and are not intended to apply to every situation. Each case is different and carries its own set of circumstances which must be taken into consideration by competent legal counsel. For more information about your specific legal claim, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing today.

Will private disability protection reduce my Social Security Benefit?

No. Private disability insurance has no affect whatsoever on your eligibility for Social Security disability payments. If you are receiving Workers' Compensation or other public disability payments, however, this could affect the dollar amount of your Social Security benefit.

What types of disability benefits does Social Security pay?

People who are severely disabled may be eligible for monthly benefits in one or more programs administered by the SSA. Both the Social Security program and the SSI program provide a monthly income for people with severe disabilities. The eligibility requirements for the two programs are different, however.

The Social Security program pays benefits to disabled or retired workers and their families and to the families of deceased workers. To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, you must be disabled and must have earned a minimum number of credits from work covered under Social Security (required number of credits varies depending on your age at time you became disabled). The SSI program provides monthly income to people who are age 65 or older, or are blind or disabled, and have limited income and financial resources.

Effective January 2005, the SSI payment for an eligible individual was $579 per month and $869 per month for an eligible couple. If you are married, and only one person is eligible, a portion of your spouse's income may be counted. In addition, your financial resources (savings and assets you own) cannot exceed $2,000 ($3,000 if married). You can be eligible for SSI even if you have never worked in employment covered under Social Security. Generally, to be eligible for SSI, an individual also must be a resident of the U.S. and must be a citizen or a non-citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Also, some non-citizens granted a special status by the Department of Homeland Security may be eligible.

I am receiving Social Security disability benefits right now. Will my Social Security benefits change when I turn age 65?

No. The only thing that will change after you turn age 65 is that your benefits will be called Social Security retirement benefits rather than Social Security disability benefits. Everything else will remain unchanged.

What is the maximum Social Security retirement benefit?

As of January 2006, the maximum Social Security retirement benefit for a worker retiring at age 65 was $1,971 per month. The maximum benefit for a worker retiring at age 70 as of that date was $2420. For those electing to take early retirement at age 62, the maximum monthly benefit as of January 2006 was $1530.

What are the disability requirements for an adult?

The definition of disability under Social Security law is a strict one. To be eligible for benefits, a person must be unable to do any kind of substantial gainful work because of a physical or mental impairment (or a combination of impairments), which is expected either to last at least 12 months or to end in death. If, because of a medical condition, a person cannot do the work he/she performed in the past, then age, education and past work experience must be considered in determining whether the person can do other work. If the evidence shows that the person can do other work, even if it involves different skills or pays less than their previous work, he/she will not be considered disabled for Social Security purposes.

The SSA uses a step-by-step process to determine whether you will qualify as being disabled. The process includes the following five questions:

1. Are you working?
   If your earnings average more than $700 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.
2. Is your condition severe?
   Your impairments must interfere with basic work-related activities for claim to be considered.
3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling impairments?
   Social Security maintains a list of impairments for each of the major body systems that are so severe they automatically mean you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, Social Security will decide whether or not your impairment is of equal severity to impairment on the list. If so, your claim is approved. If not, your application will proceed to the next step.
4. Can you do the work you did previously?
   If your condition is severe, but not at the same or equal severity as impairment on the list, Social Security must determine whether or not it interferes with your ability to do the work you did in the previous 15 years. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, your claim will be considered further.
5. Can you do any other type of work?
   If you cannot do the work you did in the previous 15 years, Social Security looks to see whether or not you can do any other type of work. The decision is based on several factors, including your age, education, prior work experience and transferable skills and a review of the job demands of occupations, as determined by the Department of Labor. If you cannot do any other kind of work, your claim will be approved. If you can, your claim will be denied.

How much do the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing charge for legal representation in matters Social Security Disability Claims, SSI claims, or Cessation cases?

Attorney fees for these types of cases are set by law and any attorney who charges more than the legal fee faces serious problems including disciplinary action by the State Bar Association. The Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing never charge a fee for your initial consultation and at that time they will fully explain all of the services your case may require and give you a careful estimate of the fees involved. There are no hidden costs.

If you or someone you know in Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, or the surrounding areas of Whittier, La Mirada, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Downey and Cerritos, needs the assistance or trusted legal advice of an experienced Social Security disability lawyer, please call the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing today at (866) 639-3365, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free initial consultation.

Professional Profile

The Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing reveres client communication and confidentiality, regarding both as top priorities. The Firm fully understands that matters surrounding disability claims can be traumatic and emotionally delicate in nature. The Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing provides a comfortable yet professional atmosphere, where attorneys meet personally with each client and deliver trusted legal services with compassion, dedication and skill. Please call the Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Firm Address:

Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing
12631 E. Imperial Hwy., Suite C115
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

Telephone: (866) 639-3365

LAWRENCE ROHLFING, Partner

Lawrence D. Rohlfing has practiced disability law since 1985. He represents the disabled and seeks to enforce their rights before the Social Security Administration, the United States District Courts, the United States Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. Having been involved in thousands of disability claims and training of other lawyers, he brings considerable experience and expertise to the representation of disability claims under Social Security and ERISA.

Mr. Rohlfing has argued disability and other benefit entitlement claims in over a hundred claims before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He presented briefs in three cases to the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Rohlfing argued Black & Decker Disability Plan v. Nord to the United States Supreme Court in April 2003.

Mr. Rohlfing is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR). He currently serves as the Ninth Circuit Representative to the NOSSCR Board of Directors and currently serves as the Treasurer of NOSSCR sitting on the Executive Board. Mr. Rohlfing is the past chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Social Security Section. Mr. Rohlfing has presented numerous papers to bi-annual meetings of NOSSCR, the Los Angeles County Bar Association Social Security Section, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, the Southeast Bar Association of Los Angeles County, and the National Business Institute.

Mr. Rohlfing graduated from Whittier College in 1982. He graduated from Whittier Law School in 1985 cum laude. He is the proud father of seven children that he raises with his wife Maggie. He is actively involved in the community managing baseball and softball teams, coaching football, and serving as the elder of La Habra Christian Church.

Courts Admitted:

• California, 1985
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1986
• U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1985
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California
• U.S. District Court District of Arizona
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1986
• U.S. Federal Courts, 1985
• U.S. Supreme Court

Presentations:

• Southeast Bar Association of Los Angeles County, "My Journey to the Supreme Court"
• U.S. Magistrate Judges, Central District of California, "Current Issues in Social Security Cases in Federal Court" - Revision of Model Orders for Further Proceedings with Jan Walli, Chief Counsel Region IX OGC SSA, and Leon Weidman, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief Civil Division, Central District of California
• National Business Institute, "Handling Social Security Cases in California"
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, "Attorney Fees in Social Security Cases, Administrative"
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, "Cross-Examining Vocational Experts"
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, "ERISA Litigation for Social Security Lawyers"
• National Business Institute, "Handling Social Security Cases in California"
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, "Attorney Fees in Social Security Cases"
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Social Security Section, "Mandamus as Relief for Non-Payment of Benefits and Fees"
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, "The United States District Court - The Next Step in the Adjudication of Social Security Disability Claims - For Beginners"
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Social Security Section, "To Appeal or to File Anew, That is the Question. Answer: Do Both"
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Social Security Section, "Practicing Social Security Law in Federal Court"
• Beverly Hills Bar Association, "Social Security, Medicare, and MediCal"
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Social Security Section, "The DOT and Vocational Expert Testimony After Moncada and Johnson"

DENISE BOURGEOIS HALEY, Associate

Denise Bourgeois Haley graduated from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and practiced civil litigation defense for six years before becoming an associate at the Law Offices of Lawrence D. Rohlfing. She has since practiced Social Security disability and has represented claimants at the administrative level as well as all appellate levels for the past seven years. Her career is distinguished by hundreds of successful District Court appeals and has served on the executive committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Social Security Section as well as on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Jr. Chamber of Commerce for several years.

YOUNG CHO, Associate

Young Cho practices Social Security disability law and has done so since admission to the California State Bar in 1997. He is admitted to the California Bar, the United States District Courts for the Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Cho has been involved in hundreds of cases before the courts and the Social Security Administration. He represents claimants for Social Security disability at all levels of administrative review. Young Cho was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Whittier College in 1993 and Whittier Law School in 1996. He externed for Magistrate Judge Joseph Reichmann, retired.

BRIAN C. SHAPIRO, Associate

Brian Charles Shapiro practices Social Security disability and First Amendment law and has done so since admission to the California State Bar in 1997. He graduated from Whittier Law School in 1997. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1994 and received a Masters degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2001. He was born in Ocean Township, New Jersey. Mr. Shapiro has handled hundreds of cases before the Social Security Administration and the courts. Mr. Shapiro is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California as well the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

STEVEN G. ROSALES, Associate

Steven G. Rosales received his bachelor's degree from Whittier College, graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California, including U.S. District Courts for Central, Southern and Eastern Districts of California and U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit. Rosales practices Social Security disability law and represents claimants for Social Security disability at all levels of administrative review. He has also been involved in hundreds of cases before the courts, including participating in three briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court and the SSA.