Source: http://al.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190130_0000039.SAL.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-10-19 20:32:51
Document Index: 687591779

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 405', '§ 401', '§ 405', '§ 405', '§ 405', 'art, 357']

FindACase™ | Wilson v. Berryhill
DONNA MARIE WILSON, Plaintiff,
Plaintiff Donna Marie Wilson brought this action under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Defendant Commissioner of Social Security (“the Commissioner”) denying her application 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. 10, 13) and those portions of the administrative record (Doc. 9) (hereinafter cited as “(R. [page number(s) in lower-right corner of transcript])”) relevant to the issues raised, the Court finds that the Commissioner's final decision is due to be REVERSED and REMANDED to the Commissioner under sentence four of § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings.[1]
On February 10, 2015, Wilson filed an application for a period of disability and DIB with the Social Security Administration (“SSA”), alleging disability beginning February 1, 2015.[2] After her application was initially denied, Wilson requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) with the SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. The hearing was held on October 24, 2016. On January 13, 2017, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on Wilson's application, finding her not disabled under the Social Security Act and thus not entitled to benefits. (See R. 21 - 31).
The Commissioner's decision on Wilson's application became final when the Appeals Council for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review denied her request for review of the ALJ's decision on October 3, 2017. (R. 1 - 6). Wilson subsequently filed this action under § 405(g) for judicial review of the Commissioner's final decision. See 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 (Doc. 20). That motion has been denied by separate order (Doc. 26). 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) (quoting Crawford v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004) (per curiam) (internal citation omitted) (quoting Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1439 (11th Cir. 1997))). However, the Court “ ‘may not decide the facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute our judgment for that of the [Commissioner].' ” Id. (quoting Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240 n.8 (11th Cir. 2004) (alteration in original) (quoting Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir. 1983))). “ ‘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)).
Eligibility for DIB…requires that the claimant be disabled. 42 U.S.C. §[] 423(a)(1)(E)…A claimant is disabled if she is unable “to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment ... which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. §[] 423(d)(1)(A)…