Source: http://al.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180329_0000193.SAL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 00:41:20+00:00

Document:
Plaintiff Tasha R. Hooks (“Hooks”) brought this action under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3) seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Defendant Commissioner of Social Security (“the Commissioner”) denying his applications for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 401, et seq. Upon consideration of the parties' briefs (Docs. 9, 12) and those portions of the administrative record (Doc. 8) (hereinafter cited as “(Tr. [page number(s) in lower-right corner of transcript])”) relevant to the issues raised, and with the benefit of oral argument held January 4, 2018, the Court finds that the Commissioner's final decision is due to be AFFIRMED under sentence four of § 405(g).
On May 9, 2016, Hooks filed a Title II application for a period of disability, with the Social Security Administration (“SSA”), alleging disability beginning October 21, 2010. (Tr. 145-146). After her application was initially denied, Hooks requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) with the SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. A hearing was held December 5, 2016, and on December 23, 2016, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on Hooks' application, finding that Hooks “was not under a disability within the meaning of the Social Security Act from October 21, 2010, through the date last insured.” (Tr. 35).
On April 26, 2017, the Commissioner's decision on Hooks' application became final when the Appeals Council for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review denied Hooks' request for review of the ALJ's decision. (Tr. 20-25). Hooks subsequently filed this action under § 405(g) for judicial review of the Commissioner's final decision. (See Doc. 1); 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3) (“The final determination of the Commissioner of Social Security after a hearing [for SSI benefits] shall be subject to judicial review as provided in section 405(g) of this title to the same extent as the Commissioner's final determinations under section 405 of this title.”); 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (“Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security made after a hearing to which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow.”); Ingram v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 496 F.3d 1253, 1262 (11th Cir. 2007) (“The settled law of this Circuit is that a court may review, under sentence four of section 405(g), a denial of review by the Appeals Council.”).
“In Social Security appeals, [the Court] must determine whether the Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence and based on proper legal standards. Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Winschel v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1178 (11th Cir. 2011)(internal citations and quotations omitted). However, the Court may not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute our judgment for that of the [Commissioner]. Id. (internal citations and quotations omitted). “‘Even if the evidence preponderates against the [Commissioner]'s factual findings, [the Court] must affirm if the decision reached is supported by substantial evidence.'” Ingram, 496 F.3d at 1260 (quoting Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990)).

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