Unlike other lawyers in Tennessee, a Social Security attorney does not require a retainer nor charge any up-front fees to help you win your disability claim. These attorneys are paid at the successful conclusion of your case.
The Contingency Fee Agreement
When you hire an attorney to help you win disability benefits, you will be asked to enter into an agreement that gives the Social Security Administration the authority to pay the attorney direct once the claim has been approved. This contingency fee agreement will be reviewed by the administration to ensure it meets the established guidelines.
The Attorney’s Fee
The fee that your attorney can claim is limited to 25 percent of any past due benefits you are awarded. Under no circumstances can the fee exceed $6,000. The attorney is paid only from your past due benefits. If past due benefits are not awarded, your attorney will not receive his or her fee.
As the legal fee is paid out of your benefits, you will not have to pay anything when you engage a seasoned attorney. You will not be responsible for paying your lawyer. The SSA pays your attorney directly before sending the balance of the back pay to you.
How Back Pay Is Calculated
The amount of back pay you will be awarded is determined once your Social Security attorney has won the case on your behalf. For SSDI (Social Security Disability), you will be paid from the date of your claim approval to the onset date of your disabling condition, for a maximum of 12 months.
If you claimed SSI (Supplemental Security Income), your benefits are calculated from the month after you originally applied up to the date of approval.
Any out of pockets expenses that the attorney makes on your behalf during the case are applied to your account and must be paid separately from the legal fee.
A Social Security attorney can help you win your disability claim. You are invited to contact the Law Offices of Miller & Drozdowski, P.C. in Tennessee. For detailed information on how they can help, visit http://www.lawknox.com.