Question concerning SSD and Attorney’s Fees?

A little background…

I originally filed for full Disability under the SSA guidelines, due to severe back injury and severe depression, in June of 2004. Of course, it was initially denied, which we all know occurs in 95% of cases, so no worries there.

Hired an attorney for appeal, and we had the hearing in September 2006. Did the usual waiting game, and was again denied in March of 2007. The judge in the case cited evidence incorrectly, ignored 5 outside opinions of full disability, and stated himself that I was considered fully disabled, but he still denied it.

My attorney put me in contact with another attorney that files appeals for those type cases in Federal Court, and we proceeded. The paperwork was filed in June of 2007, and low and behold, just last week, it was approved. All he filed was 1 paper…nothing else. I never met with him, we spoke a total of 1 time on the phone, and he’s never sent me a copy of anything he’s done.

Is he still entitled to the full fee for representing me, even though he can in no way quantify receiving $5300 (that’s the cap…25% of the award would be much higher) by his actions? Also, do I still need to pay anything to my original attorney?

One more thing…does ANYONE know how long it will typically take for them to get my benefits started? His secretary alluded today to it taking another 6 months or longer…something about the government dragging their feet on sending the file back to the state for processing?

After all this time, I’m BEYOND ready to have this over with…

Answers below in Comments Section