How does a Social Security attorney get paid ?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Currently there are three types of recognized Social Security representatives, which include attorneys, non-attorneys, and non-attorney who are entitled to fee withholding.

Attorneys and non-attorney representatives with fee withholding are paid by Social Security from the disabled individual’s back pay amount. However, non-attorney representatives without fee withholding collect their fee from the disabled individual.

Most individuals who obtain representation will typically receive services from a disability attorney, meaning that as far as the attorney's fee payment is concerned, the social security administration will handle the actual act of paying the fee to the representative. Keep in mind, however, that even though the social security administration does this, the attorney's fee is still deducted from the claimant's total back pay amount.

What is the fee for representation on a social security disability or SSI disability claim and what is currently the maximum fee prescibed by the Social Security Administration? The following page addresses this:

The Social Security Disability Representation Fee and What a Lawyer is Paid

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

What is the Chance of Winning an SSA appeal for disability?

Social Security Notice of Denial for a Disability Application or Appeal

What does a Disability Lawyer do to help you?

Social Security Disability Advice for Filing

Can you file for disability when you lose your job?

Applying for disability benefits in New York

To get a Social Security Disability or SSI Award do you have to have a Permanent Disability?

Reconsideration of a Social Security Disability denial- what does it involve?

How to Apply for Disability - Where do I go to apply for disability ?

Filing for SSD Disability - When Should You put in a Claim?

Applying for Disability - what are the rules?

Social Security Disability, Medical Records, and a Person's Limitations

Social Security Denial - What should be done if your disability is denied?

How to Qualify for Disability - How severe must a condition be?

Social Security Disability Doctor, Supportive Statements

How is the Determination for Disability made by Social Security?

To get Social security Disability or SSI do you have to have Total Disability?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in California

Social Security Disability Mental Testing

How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability?

How Disabling Does A Condition Have To Be For Social Security, SSDI Benefits?

Can a child receive disability benefits for asthma ?

Congestive Heart Failure, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

Applying for disability benefits in South Dakota

How Long Will It Take To Get Approved for Disability?

Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials