Opinion ID: 535680
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State Agency Determination

Text: 20 We turn next to Bates' argument that the ALJ erred in failing to give weight to the determination by the State of Washington's Department of Labor and Industries that he is temporarily totally disabled. 21 Social Security regulations state that a determination by another governmental agency that a person is disabled is not binding on the Secretary. 20 C.F.R. Sec. 404.1504 (1988). This is because the Secretary must make a disability determination based on Social Security law and not on the rules of other agencies. Id. A state finding of disability may be introduced into evidence before the Secretary, but the Secretary may attribute as much or as little weight to it as the Secretary deems appropriate. Wilson v. Heckler, 761 F.2d 1383, 1385 (9th Cir.1985). This is so even if the claimant has been found eligible to receive state disability benefits under a standard more rigorous than those used to determine eligibility for SSI and Title II disability benefits. Id. 22 Both the Social Security regulations and our decisions establish that the Secretary is not bound by a state agency determination of disability. The State of Washington's determination that Bates is temporarily totally disabled is not binding on the Secretary. Bates' argument that the Secretary erred in failing to give weight to this determination is thus without merit.