Social Security is publishing the full list of cost of living adjustments in the Federal Register on Monday. You can read the list today. One that is of particular interest to some readers of this blog is the maximum user fee charged to attorneys representing Social Security claimants. Beginning in December it will be $123.
The only report I’m waiting for is the jobs report.
ReplyDeleteNot that I expect a change, but any word on the change in the fee cap?
ReplyDeleteBecause being charged money to be paid money is logical to someone...
ReplyDeleteDidn’t O’Malley tie the fee cap to inflation as well and adjust annually automatically?
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to avoid the 'user fee'... don't use it. But that comes with its own costs.
ReplyDeleteThe "user fee" is a cost of doing business that I personally do not mind. The alternative would be a nightmare for small firms, and severely curb the number of representatives that could operate a viable practice.
ReplyDeleteHeck, I would gladly pay an extra $10-$50 per claim where a Workers Compensation offset (or any offset) applies -- IF it resulted in accurate/quicker payment processing. Errors in offset claims have become a huge time sink for me.
Same for Federal Court payment claims. Take an extra $100+ from my fee to hire more staff and process these claims quicker. It is ridiculous that these claimants have to wait 12+ months to get paid. And I'm certain many claimants would consent to an equivalent processing fee deducted from their own retro award if it sped up their payment by 6+ months.