How Much Is a Memphis SSDI Lawyer?
If you’re wondering “how much does a Memphis disability lawyer cost,” you’re not alone. The whole system can seem confusing at first.
Here’s what you need to know about the real price of a lawyer, whether you can afford to go it alone, and what you should be getting for the money.
Do You Even Need a Lawyer?
If you can no longer work because of a disability, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance. The initial application can be a little daunting for some people, but most applicants prefer to do it themselves.
For that initial application, you gather evidence of how and when your disability began and how it impacts your ability to work. Then you send it into the SSA and wait for their decision.
To help you apply with confidence, we’ve developed a free report called An Honest Guide to Disability. This resource answers a lot of the basic questions about the application process.
No matter how well you prepare your application, the SSA denies the majority of cases at first. That’s no reason to give up. But you’ll only have 60 days to appeal, and that’s usually when you want to get a lawyer.
At the appeals stage, it’s far better to work with a lawyer than go it alone. You don’t want to have to reapply, because each application comes with a long wait. Those are months or even years when you desperately need disability benefits.
So once you get to the appeal, it will ultimately cost you a lot less to work with a lawyer than to lose and have to start over again.
Actual Cost of a Disability Lawyer in Memphis
Disability lawyers may sound expensive, but that’s probably because lawyers have a reputation for costing a lot. In the case of SSDI, a whole separate system limits the attorney fees and protects you and your benefits.
SSDI attorneys are limited by law to 25% of your past-due benefits. That refers to the time between when you became disabled to the moment you actually get disability benefits. The appeals judge will decide on the date of your disability, but it’s usually around when your doctor first said you were disabled.
In other words, past-due means what you were already owed for all the months you’ve been applying and waiting on a decision. Your lawyer can’t receive any portion of your future benefits—you keep every dollar moving forward.
But what if 25% is a ton of money because you’ve been waiting for years? Well, the lawyer’s fee also can’t exceed a certain amount, even if you’ve been waiting for so long that the SSA owes you a lot in back payments.
As of later this year (2022), that number will max out at $7,300 total (or no more than 25% past-due benefits—whichever is greater). The court sets that number and changes it with inflation and cost of living, just like they do for SSDI recipients.
Above all, remember: you don’t have to pay a penny up-front, and your lawyer doesn’t get paid anything unless they win your case.
Why Choose One Memphis Disability Lawyer Over the Other?
This is all great news for you. SSDI appeal lawyers are all limited by law in what they can make. This means you have the freedom to pick an attorney based on other factors besides price.
Along with asking how much does a Memphis disability lawyer cost, you should also ask other questions:
- Do they have experience with SSDI appeals?
- Are their past clients satisfied with the work they did?
- Can they show how much they know and understand the SSA?
- Do you like them and their team?
Our attorneys have helped hundreds of people recover after injury and disability. We’ve received multiple awards for client satisfaction, and we take great pride in our clients’ success.
We’d love to help you, too. Remember, you only have 60 days to appeal, so there’s no time to waste if you’ve been denied. Contact us today at 901-327-2100 or fill out the form on this page to get started.