FEES ARE REGULATEDC TO PROTECT CLAIMANTS

About 90 percent of claimants trying for Social Security disability benefits are represented by attorneys or non-attorney advocates who charge a fee for their representation.

Social Security has structured the fee for these representatives to protect the claimant, not the representative.  This assures the claimant that he/she can get top notch legal representation and not worry about high legal fees.

Some examples of how Social Security protects the claimant:

1.  No fee unless you win your case.

2.  No fee unless you also receive back pay.

3.  In most cases, up-front fees are not allowed.

4.  The fee is limited to 25 percent of your back pay and there is a dollar-amount cap on top of that.

5.  Social Security must approve the attorney's fee in writing before a fee may be charged.

This arrangement assures the claimant that may be charged will be the result of a successful claim or appeal, that the amount of the fee will be reasonable and fair (and agreed to upfront by both the claimant and representative).