Opinion ID: 2778513
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ability to Cooperate with Coworkers

Text: Thornton contends that the Commissioner was required to find her disabled because the Commissioner did not meet his burden at the fifth step in the sequential evaluation process. At the fifth step in the sequential process, the Commissioner must establish that significant numbers of jobs exist in the national 11 Case: 13-15165 Date Filed: 02/11/2015 Page: 12 of 23 economy that the claimant can perform. Jones, 190 F.3d at 1228 (citation omitted); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), 416.920(a)(4)(v). The Commissioner may show through the testimony of a VE that such jobs exist. Winschel v. Commissioner of Social Security, 631 F.3d 1176, 1180 (11th Cir. 2011). The ALJ concluded Thornton was unable to cooperate with co-workers, and described her as a person with a “long history” of depression or bipolar condition that has “long affected her ability to deal with others.” In the hypothetical he posed to the VE, he asked to VE to assume that Thornton could not perform tasks that involved “cooperative efforts with co-workers.” Relying on SSRs 85-15, 1985 WL 56857 (Jan. 1, 1985), 96-8p, and 96-9p, 1996 WL 347185 (July 2, 1996), Thornton contends that the Commissioner has determined that cooperation with co-workers is required for all work. 6 Citing SSR 00-4p, 2000 WL 1898704 (Dec. 4, 2000), Thornton argues that, because the VE’s testimony conflicts with SSRs 85-15, 96-8p, and 96-p, the Commissioner cannot rely upon it at step five in the sequential evaluation process. The SSRs cited by Thornton do not require the Commissioner to find that a claimant is disabled when the claimant is unable to cooperate with co-workers. While SSRs 85-15 and 96-9p each recognize that unskilled work generally requires 6 The Commissioner contends that SSRs 85-15 and 96-9p do not apply to Thornton’s case. We assume, without deciding, that the SSRs cited by Thornton apply to her case. We further assume for the purposes of this appeal that Thornton lacks the ability to “respond appropriately to coworkers” because she cannot cooperate with co-workers. 12 Case: 13-15165 Date Filed: 02/11/2015 Page: 13 of 23 the ability to “respond appropriately to supervision, coworkers, and usual work situations,” SSR 85-15 at ; SSR 96-9p at , they do not command a finding of disability in the absence of such ability. See SSR 85-15 at  (noting that a substantial loss of the ability to “respond[] appropriately to supervision, coworkers, and usual work situations” would justify, but not require, a finding of disability); SSR 96-9p at  (same); see also SSR 96-8p (recognizing that “competitive, remunerative work” generally requires the ability to respond appropriately to coworkers). Indeed, the SSRs themselves recognize that any finding of disability must be “based on the principles in the appropriate sections of the regulations, giving consideration to the rules for specific case situations . . . .” SSR 85-15 at ; see also SSR 96-9p at . Furthermore, SSR 96-9p specifically recommends consulting a VE when an individual is limited in a basic work activity such as the ability to respond appropriately to co-workers. Id. Contrary to Thornton’s argument before the district court and on appeal, the fact that a finding of disability may be justified does not mean that a finding of disability is required. Because there was no conflict with underlying Social Security policies, the Commissioner was entitled to rely on the VE’s testimony at step five of the sequential evaluation process. Thus, the ALJ did not err in finding that Thornton was not disabled after concluding that she could not cooperate with coworkers. 13 Case: 13-15165 Date Filed: 02/11/2015 Page: 14 of 23