Don't most states put a cap on it?
like 25% up to 5k tops.

Hi all,

SSDA and SSI is a federal program, the rules for attorneys fees are straight forward and set my the federal goverment. As I understood it when I hired an attorney to complete my SSDA the fee was $5300. The fee was paid directly to the attorney after I was given a "Fully Favorable Decision" by social security. I received a very long explanation of my backpay, what my monthly payment would be, what each of my children would get in backpay & there $ and what the attorney would get . If was very cut and dry. The attorney's fee was increased a year ago to $6000 or something around that. Your SS Case Worker can give you the correct amount.

My SS Case Worker was wonderful to work with and helped me with many things as it did take almost 3 years to get. Maybe he or she can help you understand the rules for attorney fees.

By law of the federal goverment attorney's are not to take any fees until you are awarded a "Fully Favorable Decision" and they know that. And if you don't get it at all they get nothing and they know that also.

In regards to being able to work or not. If you are able to work at all you can get a job but can't make over $980 gross before they start to touch you benefits.You can work 80 hours as long as it does not go over $980 a month. I work a modified schedule as a Bookkeeper, I have 2 clients I do work for and watch, very carefully, how much I make each month.

Again, all this information was given to me my SS and my attorney.

I hope this helped.

Gabbycakes

The max an attorney can take in IL is 20%, and if a person ends up switching lawyers the cap is STILL 20% and the 2 (or more) attorney's that you have used can divide that up amongst themselves based on how much work they did or whatever, but the cap is still 20% of the total award so it's not like you would end up paying more money except as it comes to "expenses" like making photocopies, requesting medical records, mailing stuff out, etc. But I know the laws vary by state so you would need to check on the rules in your specific state.

And yes...notes need to be specific and cannot generally say something like, "cannot engage in any activity that causes pain." Some companies will have you do ANYTHING just to have you in the building, including paying a car service to get you to and from work, and others will just want you to stay home until you are without restrictions. But regardless the restrictions need to be listed specifically otherwise they will push the absolute limits and if you say you can't do something then they will send you home and turn off your pay. They can be real jerks. I know not all are like this but it certainly has been my experience.

Not all states. Some have 25% with no cap...