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What is the maximum fee a Social Security disability attorney can charge?If you decide to get representation for your disability claim with the social security administration, you can choose to be represented by an attorney or a non-attorney. This may be surprising to some, the fact your claim may be represented by someone who is not a lawyer. However, social security law is not law per se. It is administrative regulation and procedure. In fact, this is why disability applications and reconsideration appeals (the request for reconsideration is the very first appeal you can file) are actually processed by disability examiners, individuals who have been trained to evaluate medical information and who have been trained as to how the social security administration decides disability claims, but who, obviously, are not lawyers. Are you better off going with a lawyer versus a non-attorney? Not necessarily. Some lawyers tend to dabble in a wide variety of legal areas, becoming amateurs in all but experts in none. You really don't want that kind of lawyer handling your case. On the other hand, there are many non attorney representatives who used to work in social security field offices and used to work as disability examiners for SSA. These individuals are intimately familiar with the social security disability system and can provide extremely able representation. The maximum fee that can be charged by either a social security disability attorney or a non-attorney social security disability representative is the same amount. And it is only paid in the event that a case is won. In other words, if you have representation and your case is not won, you cannot be charged a fee for representation. However, win or lose, you can be charged for other expenses that are not related to the fee for representation, such as reimbursing your representative for the cost of obtaining medical records, or the cost of postage, or travel expenses. How is the fee for representation determined? The fee that is charged by a disability representative is based on the amount of back pay that is won by a claimant. It is equal to 25 percent of whatever back pay a disability claimant is eligible to receive. However, it is also capped at a maximum fee amount, which is the very most a representative can receive regardless of how much back pay a claimant wins. To see the current maximum fee amount, visit this page: How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? 
Return to: Topics and Questions Special Sections Return to Social Security Disability Resource Center Or click to one of the following: Return to -- Social Security Appeals Time Limit Return to -- Can I Talk To the Disability Examiner Working On My Case? Return to -- What Expenses Will A Social Security Attorney Charge In Addition To The Fee? Return to -- Do Most People Need To See A Judge To Get Disability Benefits From Social Security? Return to -- Social Security Disability Lawyers and 25% Back Pay Return to -- Will Social Security Attempt To Get A Letter From Your Doctor To Help Your Case? Return to -- What Is The Difference In SSD and SSI? Return to -- How is Social Security Disability and SSI Awarded? Return to -- Will my children get benefits if I get approved for disability? Return to -- Why Does It Take So Long To Get A Call Back From The Social Security Office? Return to -- Social Security Disability SSI Blog , About the Author Return to -- Social Security Disability and Money in the Bank Return to -- How long do you have To Be Out Of Work Before You Get Social Security Disability (SSD)? Return to -- The first appeal in a social security disability or SSI case Return to -- Using a Lawyer for an SSDI Disability Case Return to -- Social Security Disability SSI, Medical and Mental Conditions and Problems Return to -- Disability Lawyers - Questions about Hiring a Disability Attorney Return to -- Disability Lawyers in Various States |