Code of Federal Regulations Title 20. Employees' Benefits § 20.416.1525 Request for approval of a fee

(1) The dates the representative's services began and ended;

(2) A list of the services he or she gave and the amount of time he or she spent on each type of service;

(3) The amount of the fee he or she wants to charge for the services;

(4) The amount of fee the representative wants to request or charge for his or her services in the same matter before any State or Federal court;

(5) The amount of and a list of any expenses the representative incurred for which he or she has been paid or expects to be paid;

(6) A description of the special qualifications which enabled the representative, if he or she is not an attorney, to give valuable help to you in connection with your claim;  and

(7) A statement showing that the representative sent a copy of the request for approval of a fee to you.

(1) When we evaluate a representative's request for approval of a fee, we consider the purpose of the supplemental security income program, which is to assure a minimum level of income for the beneficiaries of the program, together with—

(2) Although we consider the amount of benefits, if any, that are payable, we do not base the amount of fee we authorize on the amount of the benefit alone, but on a consideration of all the factors listed in this section. The benefits payable in any claim are determined by specific provisions of law and are unrelated to the efforts of the representative. We may authorize a fee even if no benefits are payable.