Advocate Billing List of Categories

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Doesn't Social Security have to authorize the fee?
When should I not collect my fee prior to authorization?
What if the client pays you before authorization?
Has Social Security ever challenged your fee?

Doesn't Social Security have to authorize the fee?

Yes, Social Security must authorize your fee prior to collecting your fee. However, for years we have submitted our petitions and billed the client. We usually give the client 30 days to pay up. If the client pays
you before Social Security gets around to authorizing the fee. Don't worry about it. It is highly unlikely that Social Security will refuse or even reduce your fee.

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When should I not collect my fee prior to authorization?

If the client has a guardian or representative payee, then waiting for the fee to be authorized might be wise. Example: We represented a case and won. The claimant has an insurance company who will pay our fee for the client. In this case, we would wait for Social Security to authorize the fee because the authorization from Social Security will be needed by the insurance company to authorize payment to us.

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What if the client pays you before authorization?

This happens all the time. If you are paid by the client prior to the authorization, take the money and run. OK, running isn't required. Simply wait for Social Security to authorize the fee amount paid before you spend the money. Never tell Social Security you have been paid prior to authorization. Instead, place the money into your escrow account and you are home free until the funds are authorized. We are hoping that the pilot program will speed up the fee authorization process which can takes weeks and even months.

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Has Social Security ever challenged your fee?

In the past nineteen years, our fee amount has be challenged twice by Social Security. Both fees were eventually authorized.

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