Everyone keeps advising you to hire a good disability lawyer if you are going to apply for Social Security Disability insurance benefits, but you wonder if you can afford it given that you have been unable to work. You wonder how much it might cost to hire a good disability lawyer, and if it is even worth it to hire a lawyer to represent you.

You will find the answer to these and other related questions about Social Security Disability Insurance benefits below:

What is a contingency fee agreement?

When you hire a disability lawyer to represent you in applying for Social Security Disability benefits, they will ask you to sign a contingency fee agreement, which allows the Social Security Administration (SSA) pay your lawyer if your claim for benefits is approved. The contingency agreement means that your lawyer gets paid only if you are approved for benefits.

How much is the Disability lawyer’s fee to represent me?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set a standard fee arrangement for disability lawyers, which limits their fee to 25% of the back-pay benefits you will receive with a maximum of $6,000. The SSA will pay your attorney from the first check of your back pay.

What other fees will I be responsible for?

There may be incidental fees that your attorney will want to be reimbursed for such as the fees for obtaining your medical records and other expenses. These additional fees will never be a surprise to you. Your lawyer will inform you about them at the outset of your case, and they may be included in the expense agreement that you review and sign before your disability lawyer agrees to take your case.

How does it help me to hire a Social Security Disability lawyer?

You are too ill or injured to work and you need the Social Security Disability benefits that you have been paying for throughout your professional career. Do you agree that it is important that your application gets approved? If you are unfamiliar with how to submit a disability claim that has a chance of getting approved to an agency that denied far more of the applications it approves, why wouldn’t you want to work with a professional who is thoroughly versed in the disability claims process? After years of helping countless other clients before you, your lawyer knows the process inside out. They know how you should fill out the documents and how to handle any glitches that occur.

If your initial claim is denied and you must file an appeal, you have but a short window of opportunity for a second chance. An experienced Social Security Disability lawyer knows how to present a compelling case on your behalf. While there is never a guarantee that hiring an attorney ensures that your application will be accepted, but you increase your chances of getting approved when you work with an experienced disability lawyer who can help you avoid the inevitable pitfalls.

If you are dealing with the passing of a loved one who received Disability benefits, you may wish to get some advice from a skilled Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyer today about what your next steps should be. Our Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyers represent the injured and ill throughout Pennsylvania. You are encouraged to call and schedule a free consultation at 888.PITT.LAW or fill out our quick contact form. We represent families in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.