The Social Security Act generally requires a reduction of disability insurance benefits when an individual is also entitled to periodic benefits under a workers' compensation law or plan, or to certain public disability benefits.  By law, Social Security cannot withhold or make direct fee payment of more than 25% of the resulting past due benefits.  Also, when authorizing a fee under the fee agreement process, Social Security must apply the percentage specified in the approved fee agreement to the total past-due benefits after the applicable reduction (if any), compare the resulting amount with the statutory maximum (e.g., $5,300), and authorize a fee in the lesser amount. Thus, if a claimant receives workers' compensation and the reduction applies, Social Security cannot calculate a fee under an approved agreement until it receives the evidence necessary to compute the required offset and determine the correct amount of past-due benefits. Representatives can help to speed up the process by submitting verification of workers' compensation to Social Security.