Last Updated: 6/18/2026
Some of the questions we hear the most often include:
- What is the most a disability lawyer can charge?
- How much does a disability attorney cost?
- What does Allsup charge to represent my Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim?
There’s a short answer of “generally, 25% of your retroactive benefits payment,” however a more complete response helps you understand how things work and why the Social Security Administration (SSA) chooses to be involved in that decision.
Representation fees are not based on whatever fees a given company thinks are best. Instead, they are regulated by the SSA, which sets clear guidelines to ensure consistency and fairness.
What does Allsup charge to represent an SSDI claim?
First, it’s important to understand that Allsup is a disability representative, not a law firm. We focus specifically on representing SSDI claims and involve experienced attorneys at certain points of the process.
Allsup follows the standard fee structure approved by the SSA. In most cases, the fee is contingency-based, meaning you only pay if your claim is approved.
The typical fee is 25% of your past-due benefits, subject to a maximum dollar limit. As of 2026, that maximum is $9,200. There are instances in which the fee may be uncapped, however these are not common. So, in general, the fee is whichever amount is lower: 25% of your back pay or the capped amount.
This approach helps make sure the amount is in relation to the benefits approved, with a built-in limit.
What are past-due benefits and why do they matter?
Past-due benefits, often referred to as “back pay” or “retroactive pay,” are the amount of SSDI benefits that build up starting at your established disability onset date until the date your claim is approved. Because SSDI claims can take months or longer to resolve, this back pay can become a big part of the total.
The representative’s fee is a percentage of the past-due benefit amount (instead of your monthly compensation), with the SSA’s dollar-amount limit.
How is the 25% fee applied in practice?
The calculation of the fee follows a consistent formula. The following examples do a good job of showing how this works:
- If your past-due benefits total $20,000, 25% equals $5,000, which becomes the fee since it is below the $9,200 cap.
- If your past-due benefits total $60,000, 25% equals $15,000. In infrequent cases (as mentioned above), the fee may be uncapped however typically it is limited to the $9,200 cap.
This “whichever is less” system helps makes sure that even in cases involving large back pay, the fee does not get larger than the limit set by the SSA.
What is the maximum fee cap and how is it determined?
The current fee cap is $9,200 and represents the maximum amount a representative can receive under the standard fee agreement.
The SSA has authority under federal law to establish and adjust this cap. In the past, changes have happened based on general economic conditions. Going forward, the SSA has indicated that increases may be tied to the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
How does the SSA regulate representation fees?
Under the fee agreement process, a representative must submit an agreement that follows SSA rules before the claim is decided.
For the agreement to be approved, it must limit the fee to no more than 25% of past-due benefits and clearly define how the fee will be calculated. If these rules are met, the SSA typically approves the agreement as part of the claims process (including any fee above the maximum cap).
This process ensures that fees remain consistent and that individuals are protected from excessive charges.
How is payment to Allsup handled after approval?
When your claim is approved, the SSA usually withholds the representative’s fee directly from your past-due benefits.
This means the payment is sent from the SSA to the representative without requiring direct payment from you. As a result, there is no upfront cost and no ongoing billing while your case is pending.
Are there any additional fees beyond the standard representation fee?
The standard representation fee covers the services provided in handling your SSDI claim. However, with some firms and companies there may be limited out-of-pocket costs associated with gathering evidence or supporting documentation.
These may include costs for getting medical records, copying files or administrative processing. They are separate from the representation fee and typically outlined in the written agreement.
Unlike the fee, these costs can vary depending on the specifics of your case.
With Allsup, there are no additional charges. You pay only the one-time service fee if we win your claim. We do not charge for expenses such as travel or for collecting medical records like other lawyers, attorneys or representatives.
Are there situations where fees are calculated differently?
While most SSDI cases follow the standard fee agreement process, the SSA also has a fee petition. In this scenario, the representative requests approval of a fee based on the time and services involved in the case.
Under a fee petition, the SSA evaluates what constitutes a reasonable fee, still using the same guidelines described for standard fee agreements. This approach is less common and is typically used in more complex or extended cases.
A case proceeds under either a fee agreement or a fee petition, but not both.
