I would love to know if there was ever a final answer to this question!? The only thing I can think of is that the government feels the $6000 is really given to the person receiving the disability award (income to them), and then they have to turn around and pass the $6000 over to their attorney (income to the attorney). All the government is doing is kind-a "by-passing" the person who received the disability award by streamlining the payment process and directing the funds directly to the attorney. Another possible reason of course would stop the person who received the disability award from keeping the $6000 attorney fee... frankly, that's probably what this is all about. I'll bet some attorney's group somewhere has argued with the Social Security Admin that this is the best way to do things to assure they get their $$$s.
