Michigan § 400.44 - Fee for obtaining certain benefits; condition; amount; definitions.

The state department shall pay a fee to an attorney or other competent professional who represents a person in obtaining benefits from the federal social security administration in a proceeding establishing retroactive benefits for that person under the supplemental security income for the aged, blind, and disabled program, title XVI of the social security act, 42 U.S.C. 1381 to 1383c. The department shall pay a fee under this section only if the proceeding results in direct reimbursement to the department of interim assistance paid to the person for the period covered by the award. Direct reimbursement means a lump sum payment to the department from the social security administration or from the person who received the interim assistance. A fee shall not be paid under this section for a reimbursement that results from an initial determination only, and a fee paid shall not exceed the amount of interim assistance reimbursed to the state pursuant to that proceeding. The fee paid by the state under this section in any individual proceeding shall be determined based on the amount billed and the amount of reimbursed interim assistance. If the reimbursement for interim assistance is $500.00 or less, the fee shall be the lesser of the amount billed or the amount reimbursed to the department. If the reimbursement for interim assistance is $500.01 to $2,000.00, the fee shall be the lesser of the amount billed or $500.00. If the reimbursement for interim assistance exceeds $2,000.00, the fee shall be the lesser of the amount billed or 25% of the reimbursement. A fee paid under this section shall constitute full payment for services rendered.

As used in this section:

"Interim assistance" means general assistance paid to a person during the period covered by the award.

"Other competent professional" means a person who has demonstrated a professional competence in, and a working knowledge of, social security law and regulations under titles II and XVI of the social security act, and who is trained to represent persons in appeals before the social security administration.