determination of attorneys’ fees in court proceedings under title ii

determination of attorneys’ fees in court proceedings under title ii Sec. 332. The heading of section 206 of the Social Security Act is amended to read “representation of claimants”. Such section is further amended by inserting “(a)” after “Sec. 206.” and by adding at the end of such section the following new subsection: “(b) (1) Whenever a court renders a judgment favorable to a claimant under this title who was represented before the court by an attorney, the court may determine and allow as part of its judgment a reasonable fee for such representation, not in excess of 25 percent of the total of the past-due benefits to which the claimant is entitled by reason of such judgment, and the Secretary may, notwithstanding the provisions of section 205(i), certify the amount of such fee for payment to such attorney out of, and not in addition to, the amount of such past-due benefits. In case of any such judgment, no other fee may he payable or certified for payment for such representation except as provided in this paragraph. “(2) Any attorney who charges, demands, receives, or collects for services rendered in connection with proceedings before a court to which paragraph (1) is applicable any amount in excess of that allowed by the court thereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.”