When you apply for disability benefits, you should have a disability attorney represent your interests. Hiring a disability attorney can streamline the process for faster approval. Federal law regulates the fees when hiring a disability attorney to correlate to your date of entitlement or disability payback which is generally 25 percent or about $6,000. Upfront money requirements are minimal, if at all, and payment only occurs (contingency fees) when you win your case, creating a strong motivation for your attorney to succeed.