Can my SSDI lawyer see my benefit amount when I can't access my own account?

Your lawyer definitely has access to your approval notice letter which includes your monthly benefit amount. That's standard practice. When I got approved last year, my attorney had all the details before I received anything. They have access to your electronic folder through the ERE (Electronic Records Express) system that SSA uses. Call your lawyer back and specifically ask for the PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) - that's the technical term for your monthly benefit before any deductions.

lawyers DONT know everything!! mine told me one amount then the real check was $236 less because of some medicare thing that nobody told me about until after. ask about whethre they already taking out medicare part B

Attorney here (not yours). Yes, your attorney would have received your Notice of Award either through the mail or more likely through the ERE system. The notice contains your monthly benefit amount, when payments start, and any backpay details. However, most attorneys focus primarily on the backpay amount since that's where their fee comes from (usually 25% of backpay capped at $7,500). Some attorneys don't pay as much attention to the monthly payment details since that doesn't affect their fee. Call your attorney's office and specifically request they read you the monthly benefit amount from your Notice of Award. They absolutely have this information and should provide it to you.

If you need to talk directly to Social Security instead of waiting for an in-person appointment, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation - couldn't access my account online and needed immediate answers. They helped me get through to a live agent at SSA in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Saved me a massive headache when I needed to verify my benefit amount after approval.

I work in a disability law office (not a lawyer). Here's what happens: when a case is approved, the attorney gets a copy of the Notice of Award through the ERE system. This document has ALL your benefit information - monthly amount, back pay, when payments start, etc. However, the lawyer is primarily interested in the back pay amount because that's where their fee comes from. Sometimes they don't carefully review the monthly benefit details with clients. Also important - the initial notice doesn't always show deductions like Medicare premiums, so the actual deposit might be less than what's on the notice. But your attorney definitely has the base benefit amount information.

my daughter got approved last month and we couldn't see her account either. we got the approval letter in the mail about 10 days after her lawyer called us. the letter had all the information in it - monthly payment, back pay, medicare info, everything. just wait for the mail, it's coming.

Something nobody's mentioned - if you were receiving SSI while waiting for SSDI approval, your back pay might be reduced because of this (called "windfall offset"). Also, if you owe child support, have defaulted student loans, or certain other government debts, they can take that from your backpay too. The lawyer definitely knows your basic monthly amount though.

Congratulations on your approval! I went through the same thing last year - couldn't access my online account for weeks after getting approved. Your lawyer absolutely has access to your benefit information through the ERE system, but here's what I learned: always ask for the GROSS monthly amount AND what deductions might apply. My attorney initially told me one number, but my actual deposit was about $180 less due to Medicare Part B premiums that were automatically deducted. Also, if you're under 65, you might not have Medicare deductions yet, but it's still worth asking about any potential offsets. The award letter you'll get in the mail will have all the details, but calling your lawyer tomorrow and asking them to read you the specific monthly benefit amount from your Notice of Award should get you the info you need right away.

I've been helping people navigate SSA issues for years and can confirm what others have said - your attorney definitely has access to your Notice of Award with your monthly benefit amount. The ERE system gives them immediate access to this information. However, I'd recommend asking for a few specific things when you call: 1) Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - this is your base monthly benefit, 2) Whether there are any immediate deductions (like Medicare Part B if you're already enrolled), and 3) Your first payment date. Also, don't panic about the online account issues - SSA's website has been having technical problems for months. Many people can't access their accounts even after approval. The paper award letter usually arrives within 2-3 weeks and will have everything laid out clearly. In the meantime, your lawyer should be able to give you at least the basic monthly amount so you can start planning your budget.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Yes, your attorney absolutely has access to your benefit amount through the ERE system and should be able to give you that information. When mine was being vague, I called back and said "I need to know my exact monthly benefit amount from my Notice of Award so I can plan my finances" - suddenly they were much more helpful and read me the whole thing over the phone. One thing to watch out for though - if you're close to retirement age (62+), they might automatically enroll you in Medicare Part A which can affect your benefit timing, and if you're already on Medicare Part B, that premium gets deducted automatically. Also, your first payment might be delayed by a month or two depending on when your disability onset date was determined to be. Don't stress about the online account - mine didn't work for almost 2 months after approval. The paper notice will come and it has everything you need, but definitely push your lawyer for the details tomorrow!

I went through something very similar when I was approved for SSDI about 8 months ago. My lawyer had all the information but seemed focused mainly on discussing the backpay (which makes sense since that's how they get paid). When I pressed for specifics about my monthly amount, they were able to pull up my Notice of Award immediately and give me the exact figures. One thing I wish someone had told me - ask not just for your monthly benefit amount, but also ask when your first payment will actually hit your account. There can sometimes be a delay of 1-2 months from approval to first payment depending on various factors. Also, if you have any other government benefits like food stamps or Medicaid, your SSDI approval might affect those, so you'll want to report the income change to those agencies. The good news is that once everything is set up, SSDI payments are very reliable - same date every month. Hang in there, you've made it through the hardest part!

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm what others have said - your attorney definitely has access to your Notice of Award through ERE and should be able to provide your monthly benefit amount. The reason some attorneys are vague is because they're mainly focused on the backpay portion (their fee source), but they absolutely have all the details. When you call tomorrow, ask specifically for: 1) Your monthly benefit amount (PIA), 2) Your disability onset date, 3) When your first payment will be issued, and 4) If there are any immediate deductions. Also, regarding the online account issues - we've been having system problems for months and many people can't access their accounts even after approval. Don't worry, this is very common right now. Your paper Notice of Award should arrive within 10-15 business days and will have everything clearly laid out. One more tip: if you need immediate verification of your benefit amount for housing applications, utility assistance programs, etc., your attorney can provide you with a copy of the Notice of Award or write a letter confirming your approval and monthly amount.