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Most Social Security
disability attorneys charge the same fees
for representing claimants. This is because
the Social Security Administration has set a
certain standard for attorney fees, and all
attorney fees must be approved by the
Administration before the attorneys can be
paid.
The standard fee is 25% of the past-due
benefits obtained for the claimant, with a
maximum fee of $5300.
This is referred to as a "contingent" fee,
and in simple terms, it means the client
does not pay the attorney any money to begin
the claim. The attorney is paid only at the
end of the claim, and then only if the
client receives past-due benefits.
Perhaps this is best explained through
examples. For instance, a client may hire a
lawyer to begin a claim for disability
benefits. After going through the entire
claim process, which can take many months,
the client might be awarded $10,000 in
past-due benefits, as well as future
benefits for life. The attorney will be paid
25% of that $10,000 -- $2500. If the client
had received $50,000 in past-due benefits,
the attorney would only be paid $5300,
because that is the maximum allowed, even
though that is much less than 25% of
$50,000.
The attorney fee is withheld by the Social
Security Administration, and is mailed to
the lawyer at about the same time as the
rest of the past-due benefits is mailed to
the client.
Unfortunately, the Social Security
Administration is notorious for
miscalculating benefits, and for mailing
letters that are confusing or just plain
wrong. It is important for the lawyer to
verify every detail of the award in order to
be sure the client receives the correct
amount of benefit money.
If you have a Social Security disability
claim and receive a confusing letter, call
your lawyer immediately, so the lawyer can
explain the letter to you or can contact the
Social Security Administration and get the
matter resolved properly.
At Kraft &
Associates there is no charge for
the initial Social Security Disability or SSI
consultation. We invite you to contact us with
any question you may have regarding Social
Security disability.
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