Bill Latour is a disability attorney, not a government office

Bill Latour is a lawyer who represents people in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) appeals. He is not part of Social Security, and he does not work for the government. When you hire him, you are paying a private attorney to argue your case on your behalf at a hearing or during the appeals process.

Social Security allows you to have a representative at any stage of an appeal—whether that is a reconsideration, a hearing before an administrative law judge, or an appeal to the Appeals Council. A representative can be a lawyer, a non-lawyer advocate, or a friend or family member. Bill Latour is one option among many disability attorneys who take SSDI cases.

His role is to gather evidence, write legal arguments, and present your case to Social Security decision-makers. He does not decide whether you win or lose—Social Security does. He also does not change the rules or timelines that govern how appeals work.

Key Takeaways

  • Bill Latour is a private disability attorney who represents people in SSDI appeals, not a government agency or Social Security office.
  • Hiring any attorney, including Bill Latour, means paying a fee that is typically taken from your back pay if you win, capped by federal law at 25 percent or $7,200, whichever is less.
  • You can represent yourself in an SSDI appeal at no cost, or you can hire an attorney, a non-lawyer advocate, or another representative.
  • An attorney's job is to build your case and argue it to Social Security—they cannot speed up the process or may provide an outcome.
  • Before hiring any representative, confirm they are authorized to practice before Social Security by checking the Office of Hearings Operations representative database.

What a disability attorney does in an SSDI appeal

A disability attorney like Bill Latour typically handles several tasks in your appeal. They review your medical records, request records you may not have, and identify the strongest evidence to support your claim. They also prepare a written brief—a legal document that explains why Social Security should overturn the denial and award you benefits.

At a hearing before an administrative law judge, your attorney questions witnesses, presents evidence, and makes oral arguments about why you meet the legal standard for disability. They know the rules Social Security uses to evaluate claims and can point out when a denial does not follow those rules.

After a hearing, if you lose, an attorney can file an appeal to the Appeals Council or, if that is denied, help you file a lawsuit in federal court. They handle the paperwork and important date that come with each stage.

How attorney fees work in SSDI appeals

If you hire Bill Latour or any disability attorney, you do not pay an upfront fee. Instead, the attorney is paid from your back pay—the money Social Security owes you from the date you became disabled until the date your benefits start. The fee is capped by federal law at 25 percent of your back pay or $7,200, whichever is smaller.

This means if you lose your appeal, you owe nothing. If you win and receive back pay of $10,000, your attorney would receive $2,500 (25 percent). If your back pay is $40,000, your attorney would receive $7,200 (the cap), not $10,000.

Before you hire an attorney, ask them to explain their fee arrangement in writing. Some attorneys charge the full 25 percent; others charge less. You have the right to negotiate.

When you might hire an attorney versus representing yourself

You can represent yourself in an SSDI appeal at no cost. Many people do, especially at the reconsideration stage. However, the approval rate jumps significantly at the hearing stage when someone has legal representation. According to Social Security data, people with attorneys win their cases at higher rates than those without.

You might consider hiring an attorney if your case involves complex medical evidence, if you have already been denied once or twice, if your condition is hard to document, or if you feel overwhelmed by the process. An attorney can also help if you missed a important date or need to file an appeal to federal court.

If you cannot afford an attorney and your case is strong, some disability attorneys work on a contingency basis and take cases they believe they can win. Others may refer you to a non-lawyer advocate or legal aid organization that charges little or nothing.

How to verify an attorney is authorized to represent you

Before you hire Bill Latour or any representative, confirm they are authorized to practice before Social Security. The Social Security Administration maintains a public database called the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) representative database. You can search it online to verify that an attorney or non-lawyer representative is in good standing and has not been suspended or disbarred.

You can also ask the attorney directly for their Social Security representative number. They should provide it without hesitation. If they cannot or will not, that is a red flag.

Once you hire a representative, you must sign a form called an Appointment of Representative (Form SSA-1696). This tells Social Security that you have hired someone to act on your behalf. You can fire your representative at any time by notifying Social Security in writing.

What an attorney cannot do in your appeal

An attorney cannot change Social Security's rules about what counts as a disability. They cannot speed up the appeals process or may provide you will win. They also cannot represent you at Social Security's initial process stage unless you have already been denied and are appealing.

An attorney cannot tell Social Security to make an exception for you or override a decision that follows the law. What they can do is make sure Social Security follows its own rules and considers all the evidence in your favor.

If your attorney makes a mistake—missing a important date, losing your file, or providing poor representation—you may have grounds to fire them and ask Social Security to reopen your case. However, you must act quickly and show that the mistake harmed your appeal.

Other representatives you can hire instead of an attorney

You do not have to hire an attorney. Social Security also allows non-lawyer representatives

You can also hire a legal aid organization or disability rights group in your state. Many offer free or low-cost representation, especially if your income is below a certain level. These organizations often have staff attorneys or advocates who specialize in SSDI appeals.

Some people choose to have a friend or family member represent them at no cost. That person must still file an Appointment of Representative form, but they do not charge a fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if Bill Latour is the right attorney for my case?

Look up his record in the Social Security representative database to confirm he is authorized. Then call his office and ask about his experience with cases like yours, his fee, and how he communicates with clients. A good attorney will answer your questions clearly and explain the realistic chances of winning your appeal based on your medical evidence.

What if I hire an attorney and then want to fire them?

You can fire your representative at any time by sending Social Security a written notice. You do not need permission or a reason. However, your former attorney may be owed a fee for the work they did before you fired them, up to the 25 percent cap. Ask Social Security to clarify what you owe before you hire someone new.

Can an attorney help me if I am still in my initial process, not yet appealing?

No. Social Security does not allow attorneys to represent you during the initial process. You can only hire a representative once you have been denied and are filing a reconsideration or appeal. However, an attorney can review your process before you submit it and give you informal information.

How long does an appeal take if I hire an attorney?

The timeline depends on the stage of appeal and your local Social Security office, not on whether you have an attorney. A reconsideration typically takes three to six months. A hearing can take one to two years. An attorney cannot speed this up, but they can make sure Social Security meets its own important date and does not lose your file.

What if I win my appeal but disagree with the attorney's fee?

You can ask Social Security to review the fee and reduce it if you believe it is unreasonable. You must file a written request with the Appeals Council or the administrative law judge who heard your case. Social Security will decide whether the fee is fair based on the work done and the result achieved.