Rmdctc -

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. I' glad things went as well for you as they did.

I decided that I did not want to do it on my own. Lots of law firms say, "Go put in the initial application and then call us when you get that first denial." Even a local non-profit advocacy agency said that. I talked to a lot of law firms on the phone. I think Binder and Binder was one of them. I settled on Heard and Smith out of San Antonio, TX. They are similar to B&B. I don't live in Texas, but this firm takes claims from all over, and they gave me the most information on what to expect.

I've researched the subject. Social Security Administration allows the law firm to take 25% of your back pay, but no more than $6000. The check to the law firm comes direct from SSA to the lawyers, and SSA has to approve that it seems reasonable. So they all charge the same because that's all they can charge. I noticed that all the big nationwide firms that specialize in social security say that they win over 80% of the time. Basically, they turn down cases they think they can not win, and they pretty much know what will win. It is against the law (federal) for any of them to take money from a client unless, and until, they do win.

I didn't know any of this until I started doing some homework, and I agree with you that a claimant should find out the rules before starting. Between feedback from PC and reading a book and researching on the Internet, I am informed enough to not feel as scared as I did.

6 months was pretty quick, and I'm glad to know that it can go that quickly. I was afraid that the lawyers would stall so that their 25% would be from a bigger pot of back pay. You've helped me see that they don't necessarily do that. Hearing that means a lot to me.