How SSDI lawyers in Spokane are paid
SSDI lawyers in Spokane work on contingency, meaning they take a percentage of your back pay if you win, and nothing if you lose. They do not charge upfront fees. The lawyer's fee is set by federal law at 25 percent of your back pay or $7,200, whichever is less. This applies to all SSDI cases nationwide, including Spokane.
Back pay is the money Social Security owes you from the date you filed your claim to the date your case is approved. If you are approved for $50,000 in back pay, your lawyer receives either $12,500 (25 percent) or $7,200 (the cap), whichever is smaller. In this example, the cap applies, so the lawyer takes $7,200 and you receive $42,800.
The fee comes directly from Social Security's payment to you. You do not write a separate check. Social Security deducts the approved fee and sends it to the lawyer's trust account, then sends your remaining back pay to you.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI lawyers in Spokane charge 25 percent of back pay or $7,200, whichever is smaller—this is a federal cap that applies everywhere.
- You pay nothing unless you win; the fee comes from your back pay, not from your pocket.
- Social Security must approve the fee before the lawyer is paid, and the approval is usually automatic if the fee is within the legal limit.
- Lawyers in Spokane may also charge for out-of-pocket costs like medical records requests or hearing transcripts, separate from the contingency fee.
- The fee structure is the same whether you hire a local Spokane attorney or a lawyer from another state.
What counts as back pay and what does not
Back pay is the total amount of monthly benefits Social Security says you should have received from the date you filed your claim until the date you are approved. If you filed on January 15, 2022, and were approved on September 1, 2024, Social Security calculates what you would have received for those 20 months and calls that your back pay.
The lawyer's fee applies only to back pay, not to future monthly benefits. Once you are approved, you begin receiving monthly payments going forward. Those are not part of the contingency fee calculation. Your lawyer has already been paid from the back pay lump sum.
If you are also awarded a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit alongside SSDI, back pay from SSI is also subject to the same fee cap. However, SSI back pay is often smaller because SSI has stricter rules about how much money you can have saved.
How the fee approval process works in Spokane
Before your lawyer receives any money, a Social Security official called a Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) or a Social Security representative must approve the fee. The lawyer submits a fee petition to Social Security along with documentation of the work done on your case.
In most Spokane cases, approval is routine. If the fee is 25 percent of back pay and does not exceed $7,200, Social Security almost always approves it without question. The approval usually takes two to four weeks after your case is decided.
If your lawyer charges less than the legal maximum—for example, 20 percent instead of 25 percent—Social Security still approves it quickly. Some lawyers in Spokane may negotiate a lower percentage with you upfront, though this is less common.
Out-of-pocket costs separate from the lawyer fee
The 25 percent or $7,200 fee covers the lawyer's time and work. It does not cover costs like obtaining medical records, paying for a hearing transcript, or sending documents by certified mail. These are out-of-pocket expenses, and your lawyer may ask you to pay them or may advance them and deduct them from your back pay.
Before you hire a lawyer, ask in writing what costs they expect and who pays them. Some Spokane lawyers cover small costs themselves. Others ask you to reimburse them. The agreement should be clear in your retainer contract.
Out-of-pocket costs are usually modest—typically $200 to $500 for a straightforward case. If your case goes to a hearing, costs may be higher because transcripts and travel can add up. Make sure you understand this before signing.
Comparing Spokane lawyers to national firms
The fee cap is federal, so a lawyer in Spokane charges the same percentage as a lawyer in New York or California. The 25 percent or $7,200 rule applies everywhere. What differs is the quality of service, responsiveness, and whether you can meet your lawyer in person.
A local Spokane attorney may be easier to reach by phone or in-person meeting. A national firm may have more staff and faster processing but less personal contact. Both are legitimate paths. The fee you pay is identical either way.
Some national firms advertise lower percentages or flat fees. Read the fine print carefully. If they charge less than 25 percent, that is a real difference, but make sure they are not hiding costs elsewhere or limiting the work they will do.
What happens if your case is denied
If Social Security denies your claim at any stage, your lawyer receives nothing. You owe no fee, and you owe no out-of-pocket costs that the lawyer advanced on your behalf. This is the core of the contingency arrangement: the lawyer's payment depends entirely on winning.
If you are denied and want to appeal, you can hire the same lawyer to continue or find a new one. If you hire the same lawyer, they will likely ask you to sign a new retainer agreement for the appeal. The fee structure remains the same: 25 percent of back pay or $7,200, whichever is smaller, if you win on appeal.
If you switch lawyers after a denial, the new lawyer must file a new fee petition. Social Security will not pay two lawyers from the same back pay. The new lawyer's fee comes from the same pool, so the total paid to all lawyers combined cannot exceed the cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Spokane SSDI lawyer charge more than 25 percent or $7,200?
No. Federal law sets a hard cap. A lawyer cannot charge more than 25 percent of back pay or $7,200, whichever is smaller. If a lawyer in Spokane tells you they charge more, that is illegal, and you should contact the State Bar of Washington to report it.
Do I have to pay the lawyer fee upfront?
No. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if you lose. The fee is deducted from your back pay only after Social Security approves your case and sends you the money. The lawyer's fee is paid directly by Social Security from your back pay.
What if my back pay is very small—like $3,000?
The lawyer still receives 25 percent of that amount, which would be $750. The $7,200 cap means the lawyer cannot charge more than $7,200, but it does not mean they charge less on small cases. Some lawyers may decline very small cases because the fee is not worth their time, but that is their choice.
Can I negotiate the lawyer's fee in Spokane?
You can ask, but most lawyers will not negotiate below 25 percent because that is the standard and the legal maximum. Some may agree to a lower percentage if you ask, but there is no obligation for them to do so. Get any fee agreement in writing before you sign a retainer.
What if I hire two lawyers—one in Spokane and one nationally?
Social Security will not pay two lawyers from the same back pay. If both lawyers file fee petitions, Social Security will split the fee between them, and each receives less. This is why you should hire one lawyer and stick with them, or switch cleanly if you change representation.