Read If Your Planning To File For Ssdi.

[tagandbag]

I would like to share something with the board, about using an attorney to get SSDI. I was recently awarded SSDI a couple of months ago. I used an attorney I thought. When I contacted and signed up with the attorney on 07/10/08, I had allready filed for SSDI, on 06/26/08. When signing with the attorney they had a form to sign which gave them authority to debit my bank account, for there fee. I "refused" to sign the form and said they understood why and did not push it. After 80 to 90 days I was awarded. I found out before the attorney did, by a week. A day after I recieved the award letter, the attorney called me to let me know and discused there fee. They wanted 300.00 and I said that sounds reasonable. They sent more papers to sign and I didnt. I wanted to see what SS, came up with. SS sent me the letter for the fee amount. Lo and Behold There was an attachment to the letter. I will put it below.

" Based on the extent and type of services provided and perfomed by the non-attorney not eligble for direct payment, the complexity of the issue, the level of skill required of the representative in providing the services, the amount of time spent on the case, the results the representative achieved, the level of review at wich a favorable determination was issued and the amount of time expended on this case, it is determined that a fee in the amount of $150.00 is fair compensation for the services provided in this claim. This is because the attorney was appointed nine days prior to SSA making a favorable decision on the case.

At the time the petition was filed, the non-attorney sought an amount of $300.00. The services shown on the clients ledger submitted with the SSA-1560 indicates 1.25 hours of services rendered from 06/26/08 to 07/06/08. However the attorney was appointed as representative around 07/10/08. Also, the ledger indicates the intial claim interview was conducted on five different dates.

Therefore, it is determined that a fee of $150.00 is a reasonable fee for the services provided to the client for the services performed from 07/10/08 through 09/24/08.

The non-attorney should look to the claimant for payment of the authorized fee."

I dont want to say who the attorney was, for fear of being sued, just paranoid. I will tell you this the first letter is "A". The reason for posting this is ,I am glad that I did not sign those bank/debit forms. It seems to me a lot of these national SSDI attorney firms are like a fine tuned production line in a factory. Just wanted to share. Thanks.

T&B

[Pete53]

T&B:

Nothing wrong with what you have done on this Board. There are good lawyers and than there are others. The VA has a chitload of Lawyers working for them.

[tagandbag]

Thanks Pete, Sometimes I feel that my posts are taking out of context. Just here for info and advice if need it or I can give it. Just trying to help and enjoy it.

[Ricky]

come on tag, give the poor guy his 300 bucks, you know he has a car payment coming up hahahahahahahahaha

[tagandbag]

Got Ya Ricky My point to posting wasnt really about the money. I was trying to be subjective and point out that when they originally wanted the 300, I was not suprised. But when I saw that letter refering that SS was nine days out from a favorable decision and they only put 1.25 hrs into it. I was sort of amazed that if I did not hire the attorney. Possibly, I would have had the favorable decision at least 1-2 mos earlier and stress of waiting. I wouldnt have gotten the money any sooner, still would of waited till Sept.. Also I asked the attorney before the fee issue, if I could get copies of my records and disability determination. Get this they said they dont have any records. Go figure. Lesson learned is that sometimes its better to go it alone. All in all SS and the attorney were a pleasure to work with and I am impressed how SS monitors how fees are charged. It would be nice if there was some sort of agency that monitored all attorneys and how they charge for fees. On the other hand that could be leading to socialism and I wouldnt like that. Just some brain I food wanted to share, from a crazy vet.

[Bonzai]

I really wish that I had found this site earlier, but I kept finding advice to hire a NOVA lawyer.

I did not realize that SS reviews the fees charged by an attorney. I was under the impression that the lawyer recieved 25% of the backpay up to a maximum of $5,300. I have signed the 'letter' to have an attorney (NOVA) as a representative, and now I think I may have messed up big time. :P

I know this is for SS, but I have also retained the same lawyer for my NOD with the VA. And I have read that the attorney gets 20% of backpay owed with no maximum limit. :(

The backpays are pretty substantial, and I think I am going to end up paying through the nose. My thinking was that getting part of something was better than getting all of nothing. But since both cases are going through at the same time, neither one can be used to substantiate the other.

I've got to stop thinking...

[robert51]

i hired an attorney and he told me what to do .. and what i needed and suggested a doctor and i won... could i have won without an attorney .. who knows you roll the dice and you take your chances sometimes you win and sometimes you lose..