Social Security disability is a federal benefits practice, so the lawyers who handle Fontana cases work across the Inland Empire and Southern California. SSDI and SSI claims follow a strict appeal path, most are denied at first, and the hearing stage is where many are finally won. These firms work on contingency, and their fee is capped by federal law and paid only if you win.
Updated May 18, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Choosing a disability lawyer matters, because winning Social Security benefits comes down to medical evidence, deadlines, and how you are represented at a hearing. Below are Inland Empire and Southern California firms serving Fontana and San Bernardino County that appear consistently across Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Expertise.com, and FindLaw. Every one offers a free consultation, and is paid only if you win.
How we picked these 8: We reviewed peer rankings (Super Lawyers, Avvo, Expertise.com, Martindale-Hubbell), bar recognition, NOSSCR membership, and client review patterns. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Law Offices of Dr. Bill LaTour
Colton (serves Fontana)Mid-size
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSDI and SSI applications, appeals, ALJ hearings
A practice devoted to Social Security disability law just minutes from Fontana, founded by Dr. Bill LaTour, who holds a doctorate in psychology alongside his law degree. The firm is consistently listed in independent disability directories such as Expertise.com and Justia, with an established record on Avvo and the Better Business Bureau.
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSDI, SSI, federal court appeals
A Southern California firm focused on Social Security disability, led by attorney Troy D. Monge (California Bar No. 217035), who has represented disabled clients for more than two decades from the initial application through Administrative Law Judge hearings, the Appeals Council, and federal court. His practice is documented across Avvo, the State Bar of California, and the Super Lawyers directory.
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSI and SSDI claims and appeals
An Inland Empire practice limited to Social Security claimants. Founder William M. Kuntz has represented disabled residents since 1991, is a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR), and is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. His profile is verifiable across Avvo, Justia, Super Lawyers, and FindLaw.
Practice focus: Social Security disability, SSDI, SSI, personal injury
One of the longest-running disability practices in the region, serving Inland Empire claimants since 1985. Name partner Randall S. Schiavone is a San Bernardino Social Security disability attorney with nearly four decades of experience. The firm is listed across Justia, Super Lawyers, and independent ranking directories.
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSDI, SSI, ALJ hearings, appeals
A disability-focused firm whose founder, Eric R. Hunt, is a former claims representative and senior attorney for the Social Security Administration — experience from inside the agency. He is a member of NOSSCR and the 2009 recipient of the San Bernardino County Bar Association's President's Award for Pro Bono Service, with a profile verifiable on Avvo, Lawyers.com, and FindLaw.
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSDI, SSI, denied claims and appeals
A statewide disability practice led by attorney Don H. Jorgensen, guiding claimants through every step with the Social Security Administration and taking on denied SSDI and SSI claims for appeal. The firm is listed across Justia, FindLaw, and independent attorney directories serving Fontana and the surrounding area.
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSDI, SSI, federal court appeals
A disability firm established in 1976 by founding attorney Judith S. Leland, who served as a Supplemental Security Income judge with the Social Security Administration before private practice. The firm handles claims from the initial level through federal district court appeals and holds Avvo Clients' Choice recognition, with listings on Avvo and Lawyers.com.
Practice focus: Social Security disability — SSDI, SSI, appeals
A California disability practice led by attorney Harvey Sackett, who has handled Social Security disability and SSI claims since 1980. The firm represents claimants statewide through the appeal stages and is listed across Justia, Avvo, and FindLaw.
Match the firm to your stage. A disability claim moves through distinct phases — application, reconsideration, the Administrative Law Judge hearing, and the Appeals Council — and where you are now shapes who you need. If you have just been denied and have a hearing coming up, you want a firm that appears in front of the regional Office of Hearings Operations regularly and knows how to prepare medical evidence and testimony for that setting.
Ask how many disability hearings the firm handles, who personally attends yours, and how they gather and present medical records. Most of these firms are based in Colton, Riverside, San Bernardino, Anaheim, or elsewhere in Southern California and serve Fontana — normal for a federal benefits practice, since your hearing runs through Social Security's regional hearing office, not a local courthouse, so geography matters far less than experience.
What to look for in a Disability lawyer
The firms above are a starting point, not a verdict. The right lawyer for you depends on your medical situation, your stage in the process, and how you want to be treated. Use these five signals to compare them.
Disability is what they do, not a sideline. Social Security disability has its own rules, forms, and judges. You want a lawyer who works SSDI and SSI claims week in and week out — not a general practice that takes one now and then. Repeated, recent experience with claims like yours is the best predictor of approval.
Straight talk about your odds. A good disability lawyer tells you honestly whether your medical record supports a claim and what is missing, not just what you want to hear. Most claims are denied at first, so if a firm makes approval sound automatic, be skeptical — an honest lawyer names the gaps.
Communication you can live with. Disability cases take many months, and most complaints about lawyers are about silence. Ask who returns your calls, how fast, and whether you reach the actual attorney or only a screener. Set that expectation before you sign, because it rarely improves later.
Fees in writing, in plain English. You should leave the first meeting knowing exactly what the fee is, that it comes out of your back pay only if you win, and what costs you might owe regardless. A clear written fee agreement is a sign of a well-run practice; a vague answer is a sign to keep looking.
Hearing experience. The Administrative Law Judge hearing is where most disability cases are won or lost, so the lawyer who attends yours should do them routinely. Ask how many hearings they handle, whether the named attorney appears with you, and how they prepare your testimony and your doctors' opinions.
What a disability case looks like in Fontana
Social Security disability is a federal program, so a Fontana claim is not filed in state court. You begin with an application to the Social Security Administration, supported by your work history (for SSDI) or financial information (for SSI) and your medical records. Fontana claimants are served by SSA field offices in San Bernardino County, and the agency sends your file to California's Disability Determination Services for a medical decision.
If the initial application is denied — and most are — you ask for reconsideration, a fresh agency review. If that is denied, you request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, handled through the regional Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) serving San Bernardino County. The hearing is your strongest opportunity to win: you testify, your lawyer questions the vocational and medical experts, and the judge sees the full picture. If the judge still denies, the next step is the Appeals Council, then federal district court. Because it is a federal benefits claim, no state damages caps apply — you are awarded your monthly benefit plus past-due benefits back to your established onset date.
What does a disability lawyer in Fontana cost?
Disability lawyers work on contingency, so there is no up-front fee and you pay nothing unless you win. The fee is set by federal law, not the firm: it is capped at 25 percent of your past-due benefits, up to a federal maximum. For fee agreements approved in 2026, that maximum is $9,200 — so the fee is 25 percent of your back pay or $9,200, whichever is lower. If you do not win benefits, there is no attorney fee at all.
The fee is withheld directly from your past-due benefits by Social Security, so you never write a check for it. You may owe modest case costs such as the price of obtaining medical records; ask each firm how it handles those. Because the fee is fixed by federal rules, it is the same whether your lawyer is in Colton, Riverside, or San Bernardino — so choose on experience and fit, not price.
Red flags to watch for
Guaranteed approvals. No ethical attorney can promise Social Security will approve your claim. If a firm guarantees the outcome before reviewing your medical records, walk away.
The disappearing senior lawyer. You meet an attorney at intake, then a non-attorney representative you never met shows up at your hearing. Ask in writing who will personally attend your hearing.
No verifiable track record. “We win thousands of cases” is marketing. Real evidence is a verifiable bar record, NOSSCR membership, peer recognition such as Super Lawyers or Avvo, and a clear answer on hearing experience.
Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable firm gives you the fee agreement in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill, not a careful disability practice.
Asking for money up front. Disability fees come out of your back pay only if you win. A firm demanding an up-front retainer to handle an SSDI or SSI claim is not following the standard, federally regulated fee model.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Every firm on this list offers a consultation. Use it, take notes, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Who, specifically, will handle my case and attend my hearing? Get a name, not just a firm brand.
How many disability hearings like mine have you handled recently? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and how is it paid? Confirm it is the federal contingency model — paid only if you win, out of back pay.
What case costs am I responsible for, win or lose? Medical-record and copying costs surprise people. Ask up front.
How strong is my medical evidence, and what is missing? A good lawyer assesses your record honestly at the first meeting.
How long will my claim likely take? Ask for an honest estimate for each stage, with the assumptions stated.
Should I be filing SSDI, SSI, or both? Make sure they explain which program fits your situation.
How and how often will I hear from you? Set the communication expectation now, not later.
What can I do to strengthen my claim while we wait? The right answer involves consistent treatment and documentation.
What happens if I'm denied at the hearing? Ask whether they handle Appeals Council and federal court appeals too.
What's specific about Fontana
A federal claim, served locally. Disability is a federal program, so your claim runs through SSA field offices in San Bernardino County rather than a Fontana courthouse, and the medical decision is made by California's Disability Determination Services.
Hearings through the regional OHO. If your case reaches the hearing stage, it is heard by an Administrative Law Judge through the regional Office of Hearings Operations serving San Bernardino County, often by video — so the lawyer's experience with that office matters more than their street address.
No state damages caps. Because SSDI and SSI are federal benefits and not a lawsuit for damages, no California damages cap applies. What you recover is your monthly benefit plus past-due benefits, and the attorney fee is capped by federal law at 25 percent of back pay or $9,200, whichever is lower.
Your first steps this week
If you are dealing with a disability claim or a denial in Fontana right now, a few moves protect you while you take the time to choose the right lawyer.
Check your deadline. If you received a denial, you generally have 60 days from the date on the notice to appeal to the next level. Note that date now — missing it can force you to start over and lose months of potential back pay.
Gather your medical records. Put your providers, diagnoses, test results, and treatment dates in one place. A disability claim comes down to medical evidence, and an organized record makes your first consultation far more productive.
Keep treating consistently. Gaps in treatment are one of the most common reasons claims are denied. Keep your appointments and follow your providers' recommendations, because consistent care builds the record that proves your limitations.
Book two consultations. Every firm above offers a free first meeting. Talk to at least two before you commit, and choose the lawyer who explains your options clearly and answers your questions without rushing you.
Talk to a Fontana disability lawyer — free, no obligation
Tell us what is going on. We'll match you with vetted firms serving Fontana from the list above. Most respond within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I qualify for disability benefits in Fontana?
You may qualify if you have a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death that keeps you from doing substantial work. SSDI is based on your work history and the Social Security taxes you have paid, while SSI is based on financial need for people with limited income and resources. A free consultation will help confirm which program fits.
How much does a disability lawyer cost in Fontana?
Disability lawyers work on contingency, so you pay nothing up front and the fee is paid only if you win. Federal law caps the fee at 25 percent of your past-due benefits up to a federal maximum, which for 2026 is $9,200 — whichever is lower. The fee is withheld from your back pay, not billed separately.
How long does a disability claim take?
It varies. An initial decision often takes several months, reconsideration adds more time, and the wait for an Administrative Law Judge hearing can run a year or longer. Many Fontana claimants are not approved until the hearing stage, so the full process can take well over a year.
What are the appeal stages if I am denied?
There are four levels: the initial application, reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and review by the Appeals Council. If those are exhausted, you can file in federal district court. Most claims are denied early, so appealing on time is critical.
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for people who have worked and paid enough Social Security taxes to be insured. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a need-based program for people with limited income and resources regardless of work history. Some people qualify for both, called a concurrent claim.
What counts as a disability for Social Security?
Social Security uses a strict definition: a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents substantial gainful activity and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Conditions range from back and joint disorders to heart disease, cancer, and mental health conditions. Medical evidence is what proves it.
Can I work while applying for disability?
You can work in a limited way, but earning above the substantial gainful activity threshold set each year by Social Security can cause a denial. Because the rules are detailed and easy to trip over, ask a lawyer before working while a claim is pending.
What happens at the ALJ hearing?
The Administrative Law Judge hearing is your best chance to win. It is an informal hearing where you testify about your limitations, your lawyer questions any vocational or medical experts, and the judge reviews your records. Fontana hearings are handled through the regional Office of Hearings Operations serving San Bernardino County.
How important is medical evidence?
It is the single most important part of a disability claim. Treatment records, test results, and statements from your doctors about your limitations carry the most weight. A good lawyer gathers, organizes, and supplements your records and may request specific opinions from your treating providers.
What should I do after a denial?
Do not start over with a new application — appeal. You generally have 60 days from the date on your denial notice to request the next level of review. Missing that deadline can force you to refile and lose months. Contact a disability lawyer quickly, since most cases are won on appeal.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one how many disability hearings they have handled for Inland Empire claimants in the last few years, and who will personally attend yours. The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team
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