how much can a lawyer charge for social securitycase

by Dr. Eladio Weimann DVM 6 min read

The attorney and the client can agree on any fee, as long as it does not exceed $6,000 or 25% of your backpay, whichever is less. That limit on fees is a part of Social Security law, and in most cases, an attorney can't charge more than that.

First, the basics: Federal law generally limits the fees charged by Social Security disability attorneys to 25% of your backpay, or $6,000, whichever is lower. Back payments are benefits that accrued while you were waiting for Social Security to approve your case.

Full Answer

How much does a Social Security Attorney charge?

Aug 04, 2020 · On average, most people end up spending around $3,750 on social security lawyer fees. It’s important to note, too, that there is a limit on what the Social Security Administration allows these kinds of lawyers to charge. The rule is 25 percent of any back benefits due to the person filing the lawsuit, with a maximum of $6,000.

What fees will a Social Security Attorney receive?

But if the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves your disability application, it will pay your attorney a percentage of your past-due benefits (or " backpay "). For cases that are resolved at the hearing stage and have a fee agreement, there's an upper limit on the lawyer's fee: 25% of the award, up to a maximum of $6,000.

How do you pay a social security lawyer?

How Much Does An SSD Lawyer Cost? By law, our fees for any SSD or SSI claim are limited to 25 percent of the “back benefits” owed to you by the Social Security Administration (SSA), or $6,000 dollars… whichever is less. In addition, our fees and costs must be submitted to the SSA for approval before we can charge you anything.

What will hiring a social security lawyer cost?

Jan 24, 2020 · The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets limitations on how much SSDI lawyers can charge. Fees are limited to 25% of your past-due benefits (“back pay”). For example, if you are entitled to $12,000 in back pay, your attorney will receive no more than $3,000. Additionally, fee awards cannot exceed $6,000, no matter how much your back pay is.

What Does a Social Security Lawyer Do?

A social security lawyer assists with a variety of matters related to social security benefits. If you’ve had a claim denied or haven’t received benefits after becoming disabled from a slip and fall accident, for example, a lawyer could help you get the money you’re owed.

How Much Does a Social Security Lawyer Charge?

Okay, you’ve decided that you want to hire a lawyer. You’re probably wondering, though, what a social security disability lawyer costs or have questions like “How much can a social security attorney make?”

How to Choose the Right Social Security Lawyer

Of course, you need to think about what a lawyer charges before you hire them to assist you. Price isn’t the only factor to take into account, though. There are other things to consider to ensure you’re hiring the best lawyer for the job, including the following:

Ask for Recommendations

It’s true that you can do a quick online search for “social security lawyer near me”. Remember, though, that this isn’t always the best way to find an ethical and reputable lawyer to represent you. Just because someone has the top spot on Google, that doesn’t mean they’re the best lawyer for your case.

Schedule a Consultation

Once you have a list with a couple of options for lawyers, contact their office and try to schedule a consultation. Most lawyers will offer a free consultation in-person or over the phone.

Ask the Right Questions

Most consultations only last about 15 minutes or so, so it’s important to use your time wisely. Don’t waste your precious minutes on small talk. Get right down to business as soon as you arrive or get on the phone.

Check Their References

Always ask for references before hiring a social security lawyer (or any lawyer, for that matter). Anyone worth hiring will have no trouble providing you with references.

Lawyers' Fees as a Percentage of Disability Awards

Before we get to the survey results, a bit of background on how lawyers' fees are handled in SSDI and SSI cases: In almost all cases, disability attorneys are allowed to charge a fee only if they win the case. (This type of arrangement is called a contingency fee.) If you don't get benefits, the lawyer doesn't get paid.

What Readers' Lawyers Were Paid

Even though disability attorneys' fees are usually capped at $6,000, nearly seven in ten of our readers (68%) told us their attorneys received less than that amount. The overall average was $3,750—quite a bit lower than the cap. For those whose initial application was approved, the average was even lower: $3,100.

When Disability Lawyers Don't Charge Anything

Aside from the fact that lawyers generally won't receive a fee if their clients don't get an award for Social Security disability, a few of our readers' attorneys didn't take any payment even when they won the case.

Other Costs

In addition to lawyers' fees, applicants are usually responsible for paying their attorneys for the out-of-pocket costs of pursuing the case, such as any charges for copying medical and work records.

Are Lawyers Worth the Cost?

It isn't easy to get Social Security disability benefits, and the application process can be complicated and lengthy. But our survey showed that having a lawyer nearly doubled applicants' chances of getting an award.

What is Midwest Disability?

As a law firm, Midwest Disability focuses solely on disability claims. We have more than 50 years of combined experience and we help thousands of people each year across the country. The cost is the same for you no matter where you live.

Can I get a lawyer if I am disabled?

If you are disabled due to an injury or illness and can’t work — you should know that you can afford a lawyer, and that your chances of winning an SSD or SSI claim improve significantly if you have legal counsel.

How much is SSI for 2020?

Monthly SSI benefits for 2020 are set at $783/mo for eligible individuals and $1,175/mo for eligible couples. That’s a lot of benefits on the table. $6,000 or less in attorney fees is a pretty small fraction of that in the long run.

How long does it take to get back pay from SSDI?

For SSI claims, the date can be as early as the month after you filed your application. For SSDI claims, the date can be up to twelve months before the date you filed your application. The SSA will send your back pay in your first disability check. Your back pay will include everything you’re owed from the date your disability began to ...

What happens if you don't get back pay?

If you don’t get back pay, your attorney doesn’t get paid. If your case involves a lot of extra work, like an appeal, it is possible for your attorney to petition the SSA for a higher fee. This is pretty rare with a standard disability claim, though.

Do disability lawyers get paid?

Social security disability lawyer fees don’t cost you anything until you win your case. SSDI lawyers are required by law to work on a contingency basis. This means that they don’t get paid until you get paid. Plus, social security disability lawyers’ fees are capped by federal rules, so your attorney can’t overcharge you. ...

What is back pay for SSDI?

Back payments are benefits that accrued while you were waiting for Social Security to approve your case. The amount of your backpay depends on your onset date of disability, when you filed for benefits, and whether you're applying for SSDI or SSI. (To learn more, see Nolo's article on how SSDI back benefits are calculated .)

What is a fee petition?

A fee petition must contain an itemized list of the attorney's activities on the case. Your attorney will send the fee petition to Social Security after your case is complete, and will send a copy to you as well. Social Security will approve the petition only if the fees requested by the attorney are reasonable.

How to contact a disability lawyer?

For a FREE consultation with a Board-Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability, please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete the short form below. “Hiring a disability lawyer is probably way more affordable than you think. We would love to help you if we can.”.

How to contact a disability lawyer in North Carolina?

So hiring a disability lawyer is probably way more affordable than you think! For a FREE consultation with a North Carolina disability lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we successfully obtain disability benefits for you.