FEE AGREEMENT AND IMPORTANT FORMS
Find your Fee Agreement and important forms here. It is easy to become a client at Cannon Disability Law. Just review the following forms:
- Claimant’s Appointment of Representative form is the first form. This shows the SSA you are appointing a representative to help you in your disability case.
- Releases of Information are next. Releases give your permission for us or the SSA to collect and review your medical records. Once you sign the releases, we can review your medical records.
- The Fee Agreement is a contract between you and Cannon Disability Law.
START HERE: PUSH THE BLUE CONTINUE BUTTON IN THE GRAY SQUARE
If you are using a phone and cannot see the blue “continue” button, turn your phone onto the side. This will give you more screen space. The blue continue button should appear in the gray square. Once you see the button, push it. This will allow you to start reviewing the forms.
If you have any questions about the forms, please contact us. We will do our best to help you.
WHAT IS A CONTRACT OR FEE AGREEMENT?
A fee agreement is the contract between yourself and your attorney. It outlines what you agree to pay the attorney. Since our fee agreement is based on a contingency fee, you are agreeing to pay the attorney fee if we win your case. If we do not win the case, you do not owe an attorney fee. You can find more information below.
WHAT IS THE CLAIMANT’S APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE FORM?
The Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative Form is a from created by the SSA. This form allows you to appoint a representative to help you with your disability case. This form includes your personal information. For example, it includes your name, mailing address, and social security number.
Both you and your representative sign the form. This form is then submitted, by your attorney, to the SSA. Once the SSA receives the form, they associate it with your case file. This form proves to the SSA that you have a representative. It also allows your representative to talk to the SSA about your case. Without the form, the SSA will not release any information about your case to your representative.
WHAT ARE RELEASES OF INFORMATION?
Releases of information are forms that give your permission for others to review your medical records. For example, the SSA asks you to sign releases of information. They need to be able to review your medical records to decide if you are eligible for disability benefits. Read here more information about the importance of medical records in your disability case.
There are also releases of information that give your attorney permission to review your medical records. These must be signed. Without your permission, your attorney cannot collect or review your medical records.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FEE AGREEMENT
The Fee Agreement is a contract between you and Cannon Disability Law. The Fee Agreement states that you are our client. It also states that if we win your SSDI and SSI case, we will charge you an attorney fee. We will only charge you an attorney fee if we win your disability case. If you have more questions read “What Will it Cost?”
If we do not win your disability case, we will not charge you an attorney fee.
The fee agreement says, if we win your case, then we will charge you 25% of your back benefit. Learn more about back due disability benefits here. However, the SSA caps or limits the amount of the attorney fee. Currently, the maximum amount is $7200. The attorney fee is whatever is the lessor amount between 25% of your back benefit and the maximum cap.
For example, if you win $10,000 in back benefits, our fee is 25% of that amount. So, $2500. We do not charge you $7200, because 25% of your back benefit is less than the attorney fee cap.
If you win $100,000 in back benefits, our fee is $7200. Twenty-five percent of $100,000 is $25,000. But we do not charge you 25% of your back benefit, because that would be higher than the attorney fee cap. Therefore, our fee would be $7200.
Remember, we only charge you an attorney fee when we win your case. This is called a contingency fee. Our attorney fee is contingent on you winning your disability benefits.
SIGN THE CONTRACT & APPLY FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS
Applying for disability benefits with our help is simple. Once you sign the fee agreement, we will help you file your application for benefits online at the Social Security website. If you receive SSD benefits, then within 24 months of your onset date of disability, you will also receive Medicare benefits. Medicare benefits pay for healthcare. Find out more about Medicare benefits here.
You can also apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits are different than Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits. SSI benefits are a “supplement” to SSD benefits, paid to you if your monthly SSD benefit is a low amount of money. It is also a disability benefit you can receive if you have never had a job. However, in order to be eligible for SSI you must meet the disability requirements and the income and asset limitations.
Make sure to apply for SSD and SSI benefits as soon as you know you are not going to be able work due to your disability. Disability benefits are tied to the date of your application. Additionally, benefits do not pay if you are found disabled after your date last insured. Learn more about the date last insured here.
With SSD benefits, you can receive past due benefits one year prior to the date of your application. By contrast, SSI benefits begin the day you file your application. If you do not apply quickly, you are losing benefits.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR ADVOCATES
To learn more about the representative as Cannon Disability Law, click on one of the links below.
In the past 30 years, our attorneys have won thousands of cases at the hearing level. We also win cases at the Appeals Council and in Federal District Court. We work with our clients as part of a team effort. That is why we are successful. Look at our record, we have won over 20,000 Social Security Disability and SSI cases. Better yet, over our 30 years in business, we have won over $100 million in past due and ongoing benefits for our clients. Hire us.
If you do not understand the fee agreement or the other important forms, make sure to contact our office. Our goal is to get you through the disability process with as little frustration as possible. Contact us today.
