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IN PERSPECTIVE: REPRESENTATIVES' FEES

The fee charged by a representative is regulated by Social Security and must be approved by the judge who awards disability benefits.  In most cases the fee has been agreed upon in a contingency fee agreement.  Even so, the judge must still approve of the agreement before a charge can be made. To put fees into perspective, take a look at how much a representative may charge a client for Social Security disability representation - in relation to the amount of back pay the claimant receives.

Amount of Back Pay          Maximum Fee

$5,000                             $1,250
$15,000                            $3,750
$30,000                            $6,000
$35,000                            $6,000
$45,000                            $6,000

Compared to almost any other type of legal representation, the maximum allowable fees in Social Security disability cases are relatively low.  And if you don't collect retroactive or back pay, you can't be charged any fee at all.

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