here is a cut and paste from another thread that i commented on---

When a Social Security disability case is won, a Claimant typically receives a regular monthly benefit.

In most cases, though, a Claimant will also receive a certain amount in past-due benefits, or a back payment. This backpayment is usually due to how long the case has taken.

Very often, in fact, a claimant who has been approved and awarded benefits will have spent up to three years or more in the application-appeal process.

And claimants who have applied multiple times may have endured far greater amounts of time in the ssa system attempting to get benefits approved.

How much can an attorney or non attorney representative charge?

As opposed to other areas where individuals may have their interests professionally represented, those who represent social security disability and ssi claims have caps on what they may charge.

An Attorney or Representative for a disability case is allowed to receive 25% of a Claimant's past due benefits. So, if a Claimant recieves a backpayment of $10,000.00, a representative will receive $2,500.00 as the fee.

The maximum fee amount an attorney or representative can receive, however, regardless of how much the Claimant receives in past due benefits, is $5,300.00.

end of cut and paste....

i always say get an attorney. if you are under 50 years of age ssi will almost always deny you at least twice to make you work at getting benifits. once denied you appeal it and then wait 2 years to be heard again. yes they back pay you but can you afford to have no money for 2 years. mostly, you must prove you cannot work. you cannot even do volunteer work anymore. i think your checks will start 5 months from date of disability.

as far as having anything more than just crps/rsd goes, i say just prove you cant work but if you have other health problems i would add those in because sometimes its the combo of everything making it impossible for you to work.

good luck...........