Questions About Representation Fees
SSA generally must approve a representative's fee before it can be charged, so ask for the fee terms in writing. This page covers SSA's rules for representation before SSA. It makes no fee offer.
Ask about fees before you agree
Call if all three are true:
- You worked in recent years.
- You stopped because of a health or medical condition.
- You're not working, not on leave and not job hunting.
No recent work of your own, or applying for SSI only? SSA can help you directly at ssa.gov.
Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm Eastern.
Nothing is agreed on this page. Ask for any fee terms in writing before you sign.
For new or denied claims. Already receiving SSDI or SSI? Use SSA's benefit services instead.
Fee agreement or fee petition
SSA uses two processes to approve a fee, and SSA says they are not interchangeable.
- Fee agreement. A contract between you and your representative, so each one can be different. SSA offers a model form, SSA-1693, as one option. One condition for SSA's approval is that the agreement is submitted before the date of the favorable decision.
- Fee petition. The representative asks SSA for approval to charge and collect a fee. If SSA does not approve a fee agreement, a representative who wants to charge and collect a fee must file a fee petition.
An agreement may cover only certain appeal levels. If the claim goes past that level, the representative may ask for a fee through the fee petition process.
Expenses can be separate
SSA says the authorized fee does not include out-of-pocket expenses, such as the cost of getting copies of medical reports. Do not assume every cost is waived if benefits are denied.
Limits on the fee
SSA's fee agreement rules include a maximum fee. This page does not quote an amount. Check SSA's fee agreement page for the current limit before you sign.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Will you use a fee agreement or a fee petition?
- Which appeal levels does the agreement cover?
- Which expenses could I be asked to pay, and when?
- Can I have every term in writing before I agree?