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How Do Disability Attorney Fees Work in an SSI or SSD case?
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Question:
I need to file for social security income benefits, but a friend said I should get a lawyer to expedite my claim and improve my chances. How are attorney fees paid in these types of cases?
This site does not provide legal advice and users of this site should not interpret any of the information presented here as legal advice. The information provided merely conveys general information related to commonly asked legal questions. We are not a law firm and the employees responding to questions are not acting as your legal attorney. You should ultimately consult with a Lawyer for your case.
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Use the coupon code, 'secrets', to get 40% off!
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Disability attorney fees in both SSDI and SSI cases are regulated by the Social Security Administration (SSA). A disability lawyer, or nonlawyer representative, is allowed to take only one quarter of a client's disability retroactive benefits, if and when the client is awarded disability benefits.
The attorney will ask you to sign a contingency contract that will entitle him or her to attorneys fees after you have been awarded benefits. This means that if you don't win, or you don't get backpay, you don't have to pay the lawyer. Every contingency contract must be reviewed and approved by the SSA.
If you have a pending SSI case or you intend to file one, don't deny yourself legal assistance because you don't think you can afford it, especially if you are headed to an appeal hearing. You don't have to pay the lawyer anything up front.
For more details, see our article on How Much Will a Social Security Disability Attorney Charge?
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