What a disability practice partner does
A disability practice partner is a law firm or attorney who represents people in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases. They handle the paperwork, gather medical evidence, prepare you for hearings, and argue your case before an administrative law judge if your initial claim is denied.
Zamler Shiffman Karfis is one such firm. Like other disability practices, they work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. The Social Security Administration caps what they can charge: 25 percent of your back pay (the money owed from when your disability began), up to a maximum of $6,000, whichever is less. You pay nothing upfront.
Most people who file for SSDI or SSI are denied the first time. A lawyer does not change those odds dramatically, but they do change what happens next. They know which medical records matter, how to present your work history, and how to respond when the government's own doctor says you can still work.
Key Takeaways
- Disability lawyers work on contingency, meaning they are paid only if you win, and the Social Security Administration limits their fee to 25 percent of your back pay or $6,000, whichever is smaller.
- You can represent yourself at any stage of a Social Security Disability claim, but most people who go to a hearing without a lawyer lose.
- A disability practice partner handles evidence gathering, forms, and the hearing itself, but you must still provide your medical records and attend appointments.
- You can hire a lawyer at any point — after a denial, before a hearing, or even after you have already lost once.
- The Social Security Administration maintains a list of approved representatives, which you can search by location and specialty.
When you might need a disability lawyer
You do not need a lawyer to file for SSDI or SSI. You can submit the application yourself through Social Security's website, by phone, or in person at your local office. Many initial claims are approved without legal help, though the rate varies by state and by the type of disability.
A lawyer becomes most useful after a denial. If Social Security says you are not disabled, you have the right to appeal. The appeal process has several stages: reconsideration (a second review of your file), a hearing before an administrative law judge, and further appeals if you lose again. At the hearing stage, representation makes the largest difference. People with lawyers win their hearings at roughly twice the rate of people without them.
You can also hire a lawyer before you file, if you want help gathering medical evidence and building a strong initial claim. Some people do this when they have complex medical histories or when their condition is hard to document. Others wait to see if they are denied first, then hire someone for the appeal.
How to find and hire a disability practice partner
The Social Security Administration maintains the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge Representative Finder, a searchable database of lawyers and non-lawyer representatives approved to work on Social Security cases. You can search by state, city, or name. This list includes Zamler Shiffman Karfis and thousands of other firms.
You can also search online for "Social Security disability lawyer near me" or ask your doctor, local legal aid office, or disability advocacy group for referrals. Many disability lawyers advertise heavily online, so you will find options quickly. The harder part is choosing one.
When you contact a firm, ask: Do they take cases like yours? How long have they been practicing disability law? What is their success rate at hearings? Will you work with the same person throughout, or will your case move between attorneys? Some firms are large and handle hundreds of cases; others are small and take on fewer clients. Neither is inherently better — it depends on what you need.
Once you decide to hire someone, you sign a fee agreement that spells out the contingency fee and what the lawyer will do. You also sign a Form SSA-1696, which authorizes them to represent you before Social Security. You can fire a representative at any time and hire someone else, though Social Security must approve the change.
What happens after you hire a lawyer
Your lawyer will request your medical records from your doctors, hospitals, and any specialists you have seen. They will also ask you for a detailed work history, including the jobs you held, when you left work, and why. This information goes into your case file.
If your case goes to a hearing, your lawyer will prepare you for it. They will explain what to expect, what questions the judge will ask, and how to talk about your condition and limitations. They may also hire a medical expert or vocational expert to testify on your behalf — someone who can explain to the judge why your condition prevents you from working.
You are still responsible for attending all appointments, providing honest information, and showing up to your hearing. Your lawyer cannot do those things for you. If you miss appointments or do not follow your doctor's treatment plan, it weakens your case, and no lawyer can fix that.
After the hearing, the judge issues a written decision. If you win, Social Security calculates your back pay and your monthly benefit. Your lawyer takes their fee from the back pay. If you lose, you can appeal again, and your lawyer can represent you at the next level or you can hire someone new.
The cost and what you actually pay
The fee cap is 25 percent of back pay or $6,000, whichever is less. Back pay is the money Social Security owes you from the date your disability began (or the date you filed, depending on the program). If you are approved for $30,000 in back pay, your lawyer gets $6,000. If you are approved for $15,000 in back pay, your lawyer gets $3,750.
You pay nothing if you lose. You pay nothing upfront. The only other cost is if your lawyer hires an expert witness — a doctor or vocational specialist to testify at your hearing. Some firms cover this cost themselves; others ask you to pay it. Ask about this before you sign.
Social Security also allows you to hire a non-lawyer representative — someone trained in disability law but not licensed to practice law. Their fee is capped at 25 percent of back pay or $6,000, the same as a lawyer. Non-lawyer representatives are often less expensive to hire initially (if you pay for a consultation), but the contingency fee is the same.
Representing yourself versus hiring a lawyer
You have the right to represent yourself at every stage of a Social Security Disability claim. You can file, appeal, and go to a hearing without a lawyer. Social Security provides forms and instructions online, and local legal aid offices sometimes offer free help with paperwork.
The tradeoff is time and complexity. Disability cases require medical evidence, legal arguments about what "disability" means under Social Security rules, and knowledge of how judges decide cases. If your condition is straightforward and well-documented, you may not need a lawyer. If your condition is rare, your medical records are scattered, or you have worked many different jobs, a lawyer's help is more valuable.
At a hearing, judges expect you to present evidence and make an argument. They do not coach you or help you build your case. A lawyer does both. This is why representation matters most at the hearing stage.
What to do if you have already been denied
If Social Security has already turned you down, you can still hire a lawyer. You have 60 days from the date of the denial letter to file an appeal for reconsideration. After that, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. You can hire a lawyer at any of these stages.
Bring your denial letter and any medical records you have gathered since you filed. Your lawyer will review what went wrong the first time and build a stronger case for the appeal. Sometimes the problem is missing medical evidence; sometimes it is how your case was presented. A lawyer can often spot the issue and fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change lawyers if I am not happy with the one I hired?
Yes. You can fire your representative at any time and hire someone else. You must notify Social Security in writing, and the new lawyer must sign a new fee agreement and Form SSA-1696. Your case will transfer to the new representative, and Social Security will split any fee between the two lawyers based on the work each did.
What if I win my case but disagree with the fee my lawyer charged?
You can request that Social Security review the fee. If you believe the fee exceeds the 25 percent cap or $6,000 limit, or if you think the lawyer did not earn it, you can file a complaint with the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General or with your state bar association.
Do I need a lawyer from a big firm or can a solo practitioner handle my case?
Both can. Firm size does not determine quality. A solo practitioner may give you more personal attention; a larger firm may have more resources and staff. Ask about their experience with cases like yours and their hearing success rate, regardless of size.
What if I cannot afford to wait for a hearing?
If you are in financial crisis, ask your lawyer about expedited hearing requests or about programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which can provide faster payments in some cases. Some disability lawyers also know about emergency assistance programs in your area. There is no way to speed up Social Security's process itself, but your lawyer may know other resources.
Can a lawyer may provide I will win?
No. Any lawyer who promises you will win is not being honest. Disability cases depend on your medical evidence, your work history, and how the judge interprets Social Security's rules. A good lawyer improves your odds, but cannot may provide an outcome.