Is it standard for a SS disability lawyer to charge extra fees for medical records, copying, travel and other expenses? I just got the paperwork today and these are added AFTER the 25% or 00 max fee. Since, all those expenses can get pretty hefty, that's kind of scary especially since it also says that I have to pay all those expenses whether I win or not. What would I possibly have to pay those expenses with?
So those that know, I could use some guidance here.
I don't see why a SS disability lawyer would be different than any other lawyers fees. Most lawyers get their 33% PLUS expenses; i.e. copying, medical records, etc.
Copying fees can be very high. Your lawyer will send for your medical records on an ongoing basis, each time incurring fees for this. Don't forget about postage....that ads up quickly with these huge medical charts.
Be sure to talk to your lawyer and ask for an ongoing list of expenses so that you're not surprised in the end. I'm sure you must have signed some sort of a contract spelling this stuff out.
Mine didn't.
But then, that was 1992. Maybe it's different now?
There's got to be a AZ attorney site that gives the basics for cases like this - I'll go poke.
Yes, you're right. It's 25% or 00, no legal fees unless you win, excluding costs. Yikes! That would spook me too.
http://www.ssadisability.net/services.html
Justice is no more than a prostituite. Everybody has been up that skirt. Hopefully there is a very special place in hell for lawyers. Only the rich can afford justice. The justice system knows it and just bends the non-rich over.
Debrakay, are you a lawyer by chance?
I read this just the other day and it explains it well.Some days it seems like just endless piles of crap.
That is ludicrous! I use a firm that specializes in SSDI claims and they will only get 25% of my backpay or 00 no extra for copies etc. I would ask just how much money this could come to. 378lbs of paper ought to do it don't you think?Hilarious Marion.
That's what I thought Bonny. And, the lawyer DID NOT mention that in our phone conversation when I asked about fees. I really need a lawyer, but that could be thousands of dollars. I remember what it was like going through a divorce lawyer and that ended up being a huge expense. 378 lbs of paper plus postage. Oh, you are really scaring me.
Well my lawyer told me up front that there might be additional fees related to coping and mailing FROM the doctors office. They told me that none of my doctors have charged them for such and it Normally doesnt go above 0 and if it did they would call me which they have not.In my mind if I am charged for travel costs so be it, I have been fighting this too long and feel that the lawyer will pay for himself if I do win ( hopefully sooner now that I do have a lawyer) in payments made to me by SS.I figure if he gets me my claim won 6 months sooner than if I went with out him, I am money ahead, not to mention the aggravation!! Do get a Lawyer that only gets paid IF he wins........More incentive. Find out all you can about them before you hire them if possible,like have they worked for SS before becoming a lawyer,how long have they practiced, win rate etc.Hmm...well I know that my doctors do charge for everything except paperwork straight to SS which it's illegal for them to charge for. I've got the bills to prove that.
This lawyer's terms are saying that I have to pay all these fees even if they do not win. That's what concerns me because I thought most didn't. So, am I understanding your experiences right?
Plus, I have to send them copies of all my paperwork. I don't have a fax or one that I can use. This means I will have to go copy this at a copy center. The copying/faxing costs are really starting to add up as I try to comply with all these different agencies.
It really bugs me that he did not say this over the phone. This is the second lawyer that I've said verbally that I'd go with them and now am feeling buyer's remorse. Especially since he did not give me a call back regarding the LTD.
But they are not being upfront with me. It's bad enough to deal with SS but these vultures make it worse.
I just want to make sure though that this is not standard treatment. If I don't win, he should get nothing, right? Even expenses?
santaruss where are you in the SSDI process? I am waiting for a decision from the ALJ and I first filed 15 months ago and gone thru the 1st and 2nd denial which I was told to expect.Deanna, I really wouldn't worry too much about the expenses. Mine said that too, and I asked approx how much that could amount to. He said it usually was no more than 0-200. Usually less.
Bear in mind that these attorneys don't take these cases unless they are pretty certain they can win. It just isn't worth their time, if they are not going to end up with a fee at the end. And the 00.00 is the MAX they can charge as a fee. It is often much less. It depends on what you win as a back judgement.
Just try to relax, Sweetie. You have so much going on in your life and you can't fix it all at one time. Just try and not worry about the things that you can't do anything about at this time. Keep the faith, knowing that you deserve this, and I'm sure it will come to you.
Hugs to you,
Nini
I did really like this lawyer and it's true that I have so much spinning around that I can't even think straight. I spend the day going for more test and more doctors appointments where they order more tests. Then I have all this disability stuff. Somewhere in there I fit PT. I am completely exhausted.
Nina, I am going to call him and get clarification on this. I didn't want to knee-jerk on this that's why I posted tonight so I'd have a good idea what others had experienced before I talked to him.
Hey SantaRuss!! Have not seen you post in eons! And just think... I was thinking about you last night for some strange reason and even thought about going to the MSN Group you were/are a member of and seeing how you were doing. Hope life is treating you well, and your computer is acting like it should.No, I'm not a lawyer, lol. I'm an office mgr. for a physical therapy office.
I've been involved in a lawsuit personally, so I have the experience of seeing the bills, lol.
Also, because of where I work our office gets requests to photocopy patient's charts all the time for lawyers. BE CAREFUL...check your state laws, in NH there is a set amount that we are allowed to charge. Off the top of my head I think it's .00 for first 1-30 pages, however, it's .50 for each page afterwards. I've worked at another office prior to the one now and they charged what they wanted (always high) because they got away with it. Regardless, that's still a lot of money. Think of how thick your medical chart is!
Also, if a doctor reviews your chart to write a note on your behalf for the lawyer...."cha ching"....I've seen doctors charge 0 - 0 to do one letter, depending on how cumbersome their records are to go through. And, if they go to court for you..."big cha ching", 00 to 00. Yup, out of your pocket.....
Most times the lawyer excludes their fees from the deal "pay only if you win".
Truly, if you have to pay fees, check with your lawyer on an ongoing basis to know where you stand.
Okay, that's my humble opinion, lol..........
Here's a State by State break down of copying fees: http://www.lamblawoffice.com/medical-records-copying-charges .html