If the representative elects to use the fee petition process, the representative must file a fee petition with SSA. The representative can use Form SSA-1560 (Petition to Obtain Approval of a Fee For Representing a Claimant Before the Social Security Administration) for this purpose An attorney or other representative who wants to charge or collect a fee for services rendered in connection with a claim before the Security Administration (SSA) is required by law to first obtain SSA's approval of the fee. The only exceptions are if the fee is for services rendered (1) when a nonprofit organization or government agency pays the fee and any expenses out of funds which a government entity provided or administered and the claimant incurs no liability, directly or indirectly, for the cost of such services and expenses; (2) in an official capacity such as that of legal guardian, committee, or similar court-appointed office and the court has approved the fee in question; or (3) in representing the claimant before a court of law. A representative who has rendered services in a claim before both SSA and a court of law may seek a fee from either or both, but generally neither tribunal has the authority to set a fee for services rendered before the other. To charge and collect a fee for services, the representative must use one of two, mutually exclusive, fee approval processes: the fee agreement process or the fee petition process. You must give the claimant a copy of the fee petition and each attachment. Retain a copy for your records. Although you may file a fee petition at any SSA office, you generally file the petition with the office shown below: If a court or the Appeals Council issued the decision, send the petition to: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, SSA ATTN: Attorney Fee Branch, Suite 805 5107 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22041-3255. If an Administrative Law Judge issued the decision, send the petition to him or her using the hearing office address. In most other cases, send the petition to the processing center address that appears at the top right of the claimant’s title II notice, or in a title XVI only case, to the servicing field office. |