Source: http://fl.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190702_0002145.MFL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 04:26:47
Document Index: 230698466

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 205', '§ 405', '§ 416', '§ 404', '§ 423', '§ 404', '§ 405', '§ 205', '§ 405', '§ 1520', '§ 1520', '§ 1520', '§ 1520', 'art, 357']

THERESA SCOTT, Plaintiff,
Plaintiff, Theresa Scott, seeks judicial review of the final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration denying her claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) and Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”). The Commissioner filed the Transcript of the proceedings (hereinafter referred to as “Tr.” followed by the appropriate page number), and the parties filed legal memoranda setting forth their respective positions. For the reasons set out herein, the Court finds that the decision of the Commissioner is due to be AFFIRMED pursuant to § 205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C § 405(g).
I. Social Security Act Eligibility, Procedural History, Standard of Review, and ALJ's Findings
The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(I), 423(d)(1); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505. The impairment must be severe, making Plaintiff unable to do her previous work, or any other substantial gainful activity which exists in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d) (2); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1505-404.1511.
Plaintiff filed applications for DIB and SSI on August 7, 2014, alleging disability beginning May 1, 2013. (Tr. 190-91, 192-96). Plaintiff subsequently amended her alleged onset date to October 2, 2013. (Tr. 217). Plaintiff's applications were denied initially on October 8, 2014, and upon reconsideration on December 9, 2014. (Tr. 64, 78, 88, 98). Plaintiff requested a hearing and on February 16, 2017, an administrative hearing was held before Administrative Law Judge Gregory Froehlich (the “ALJ”). (Tr. 32-55). On April 25, 2017, the ALJ rendered his decision finding Plaintiff not disabled. (Tr. 13-28). Plaintiff requested review of the decision which the Appeals Council denied review on February 6, 2018. (Tr. 1-6). Plaintiff initiated this action by Complaint (Doc. 1) on March 29, 2018.
The Commissioner's findings of fact are conclusive if supported by substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405 (g). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate support to a conclusion. Even if the evidence preponderated against the Commissioner's findings, we must affirm if the decision reached is supported by substantial evidence.” Crawford v. Comm'r., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004) (citing Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir. 1997)); Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1520, 1529 (11th Cir. 1990). In conducting this review, this Court may not reweigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the ALJ, but must consider the evidence as a whole, taking into account evidence favorable as well as unfavorable to the decision. Martin v. Sullivan, 894 F.2d 1329, 1330 (11th Cir. 2002); Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1560 (11th Cir. 1995). However, the District Court will reverse the Commissioner's decision on plenary review if the decision applied incorrect law, or if the decision fails to provide sufficient reasoning to determine that the Commissioner properly applied the law. Keeton v. Dep't. of Health & Human Servs., 21 F.3d 1064, 1066 (11th Cir. 1994). The Court reviews de novo the conclusions of law made by the Commissioner of Social Security in a disability benefits case. Social Security Act, § 205(g), 42 U.S.C.A. § 405(g).
At step three, the claimant must prove that her impairment meets or equals one of impairments listed in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Sbpt. P. App. 1. Doughty, 245 F.3d at 1278, 20 C.F.R. § 1520(a)(4)(iii). If she meets this burden, she will be considered disabled without consideration of age, education and work experience. Doughty, 245 F.3d at 1278.
At step four, if the claimant cannot prove that her impairment meets or equals one of the impairments listed in Appendix 1, she must prove that her impairment prevents her from performing her past relevant work. Id. At this step, the ALJ will consider the claimant's RFC and compare it with the physical and mental demands of her past relevant work. 20 C.F.R. § 1520(a)(4)(iv), 20 C.F.R. § 1520(f) . If the claimant can still perform her past relevant work, then she will not be found disabled. Id.
At step five, the burden shifts to the Commissioner to prove that the claimant is capable of performing other work available in the national economy, considering the claimant's RFC, age, education, and past work experience. Doughty, 245 F.3d at 1278, 20 C.F.R. § 1520(a)(4)(v). If the claimant is capable of performing other work, she will be found not disabled. Id. In determining whether the Commissioner has met this burden, the ALJ must develop a full and fair record regarding the vocational opportunities available to the claimant. Allen v. Sullivan, 880 F.2d 1200, 1201 (11th Cir. 1989). There are two ways in which the ALJ may make this determination. The first is by applying the Medical Vocational Guidelines (“grids”), and the second is by the use of a vocational expert. Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1239 (11th Cir. 2004). Only after the Commissioner meets this burden does the burden shift back to Claimant to show that she is not capable of performing the “other work” as set forth by the Commissioner. Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 1274, 1278 n.2 (11th Cir. 2001).