You get paid since your date of disability. They determine that so they'll tell you what it is when you go to see them. However there is a waiting period or something.........I forget what but I was approved in 11 weeks and didn't get paid for the first month. Your attorney gets paid a portion of your backpay if you even have it (unless you have other arrangements but that's the normal). If you have the backpay arrangement and don't get it the attorney doesn't get paid, as I understand it. I didn't use an attorney so someone else may clarify that.