At Berger and Green, our Social Security Disability attorneys get paid when our clients recover the benefits or payout they deserve. When it comes to Social Security Disability cases, social security disability attorneys get paid based on the limits set by federal law and according to the process allowed under that law. If we cannot secure disability benefits on your behalf, you will not pay anything.
Attorney’s Fees Come Out of Disability Back Payments
When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits and then get denied, it can often take a year or more for reconsideration and an appeal hearing. During this time, your benefits continue to accrue from the date of your disability onset date and following any applicable waiting periods.
How much back pay you may get at the time of approval depends on several factors including:
- The onset date of your disability
- The date you filed for disability
- Whether you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Federal law allows attorneys to take only a small portion of these back pay benefits — up to a set amount — as payment for handling your appeal. If your case requires additional appeals to higher courts, your attorney may petition to take reasonable fees above this amount. Charging you more than the legal maximum requires approval based on the specific details of your case.
For a free legal consultation, call 412-661-1400
The Legal Limits on Fees for Disability Attorneys
In the vast majority of Pennsylvania Social Security Disability cases, federal laws only allow an attorney to charge the lesser of:
- A quarter of your back pay or past due benefits; or
- $7,200.
When an attorney handles your disability appeal, the Social Security Administration will require the Administrative Law Judge who hears your appeal to approve your fee agreement with your attorney. Generally, this is a standard agreement that includes 25 percent of your back pay. In fact, the Social Security Administration will often withhold this portion and give it to your lawyer instead.
If it appears that 25 percent of your back pay will be more than $7,200 or the current legal limit, they will instead hold the legal maximum. For example, imagine your back pay totals $12,000. The Social Security Administration will withhold $3,000 of your back pay for our attorney. If your back pay totals $35,000, the Social Security Administration would only withhold the maximum fee, $7,200.
An Attorney Can Help You Get the Pennsylvania Disability Benefits You Deserve
If you cannot work your job because of a medical condition or impairment that prevents you from earning a living, Berger and Green can help you:
- Understand your options for Social Security Disability benefits
- Prepare and double-check your application
- File your claim for benefits
- Request reconsideration if denied
- Request an appeal hearing if necessary and if there is sufficient time to do so
- Represent you during your appeal hearing
As a part of our initial consultation with you, we will explain how the fees work. We will also explain the federal laws that limit how much we can charge and go over our payment agreement with you in as much detail as necessary. We are always transparent about how much your case will cost and how we will recover our attorney’s fees.
Our legal team may also be able to pursue additional compensation on your behalf, handling a personal injury case on a contingency basis. If your impairment occurred because of injuries you suffered in a personal injury accident, we can investigate your case and may be able to hold the at-fault party liable. Call us today at 412-661-1400 to learn more.
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Talk to an Attorney from Berger and Green About Your Disability Application
If you cannot make ends meet because you cannot work your job, Berger and Green can help you pursue disability benefits. We will review your case for free and help you prepare and file your claim. If the Social Security Administration has already denied your application, we can help you navigate the reconsideration and appeals process. Let us take a look at your case today.
Call 412-661-1400 to talk to a member of the Berger and Green team during a complimentary consultation about Social Security Disability benefits today. You will never pay any out-of-pocket attorney’s fees.
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