Return to Videos Attorneys in Social Security disability cases are compensated by law by the claimant. Traditionally, at least over the past decade or so, the claimant will sign a 1696 form as well as an authorization to represent me. An attorney comes in to represent the claimant. The attorney gets paid by the government deducting 25% of past due benefits from the claimant's back payment. This limitation is also subject to either $6,000 or 25%. Whichever is the lesser. So it's not unusual for an attorney to get a fee of a couple hundred dollars on a case and it's more likely they'll get a fee of a few hundred dollars and it is that he'll get the full amount.