Melissa Stone v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 596 F. App'x 878 (11th Cir. 2015). · Go Syfert
Melissa Stone v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 596 F. App'x 878 (11th Cir. 2015). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
22 citation events (22 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Sherrell v. Kijakazi (CONSENT) (almd, 2023-09-06)
Treatment trajectory · 2019 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2019 2022 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 22 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Sherrell v. Kijakazi (CONSENT)
M.D. Ala. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
for ssi claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where she is both disabled and has an ssi application on file.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Hinson v. Kijakazi (CONSENT)
M.D. Ala. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
for ssi claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where she is both disabled and has an ssi application on file.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Santiago Casiano v. Commissioner of Social Security
M.D. Fla. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
for ssi claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where he is both disabled and has an ssi application on file.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Asztalos v. Bisignano
S.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (footnote added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Wallace-Barnes v. Bisignano
S.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cusatis v. Bisignano
S.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Holt v. O'Malley
S.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. Bisignano
S.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hunter v. Kijakazi
S.D. Ga. · 2024 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (footnote added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Grant v. O'Malley
S.D. Ga. · 2024 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (footnote added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hogan v. O'Malley
S.D. Ga. · 2024 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (footnote added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Argrow v. Commissioner of Social Security
S.D. Ga. · 2023 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x, 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (footnote added).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Smith v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
N.D. Ala. · 2022 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (per curiam) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 416 .202–03). of other jobs in the national economy considering his age, education, work experience, and RFC.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rios v. Commissioner of Social Security
M.D. Fla. · 2022 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App'x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (citations omitted) (noting that an ALJ is “free to accept or reject restrictions in a hypothetical question that were not supported by substantial evidence, even when the hypothetical was posited by the ALJ and not counsel”);7 see also Smith v. Colvin, No. 4:12-cv-03588-DCN, 2014 WL 1159056 , at *3 (D.S.C.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Madden v. Kijakazi(CONSENT)
M.D. Ala. · 2021 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. administrative level.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Crawford v. Commissioner of Social Security
S.D. Ga. · 2021 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (per curiam) (recognizing twelve-month durational requirement).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Sims v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
N.D. Ala. · 2020 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (“For SSI claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where she is both disabled and has an SSI application on file.’’) Sims’ records that do fall within the relevant period do not show that he had any additional functional limitations during that time, but simply show that he was prescribed medication and sought treatment for conditions including back pain and cardiac problems in the year before his application for SSI.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Woodward v. Commissioner of Social Security
M.D. Fla. · 2019 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (per curiam); see also Moore, 405 F.3d at 1211 ; 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.330 , 416.335.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Gorshkov v. Commissioner of Social Security
M.D. Fla. · 2019 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015) (per curiam); see also Moore, 405 F.3d at 1211 ; 20 C.F.R. §§ 416.330 , 416.335.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Horn v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
N.D. Ala. · 2019 · confidence medium
Sec., 596 F. App'x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015). 13).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jones v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner
N.D. Ala. · 2019 · confidence medium
Sec., 596 F. App'x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015). to the Vocational Expert’s testimony, however, the ALJ determined that there are existing jobs in significant numbers in the national economy that Plaintiff can perform.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) PADILLA v. BERRYHILL
N.D. Fla. · 2019 · confidence medium
Admin., 596 F. App’x 878, 879 (11th Cir. 2015); see also, e.g., Casey v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 987 F.2d 1230, 1233 (6th Cir. 1993) (stating “[t]he proper inquiry in an application for SSI benefits is whether the plaintiff was disabled on or after her application date”). and, as a result, the ALJ’s decision became the final determination of the Commissioner.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Melissa STONE, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, Defendant-Appellee
14-11982.
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Jan 8, 2015.
596 F. App'x 878
N. Albert Bacharach, Jr., N. Albert Ba-charach, Jr. PA, Gainesville, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellant., Lauren Chait, Joseph Langkamer, Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel, Region III, Philadelphia, PA, Peter G. Fisher, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tallahassee, FL, Pamela C. Marsh, Gainesville, FL, for Defendant-Appellee.
Marcus, Pryor, Edmondson.
Cited by 22 opinions  |  Unpublished  |  NEW
PER CURIAM:

Melissa Stone appeals the district court’s order affirming the Social Security Commissioner’s (“Commissioner”) denial of her applications for disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) and supplemental social security income (“SSI”) benefits. On appeal, she argues that the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) erred by not incorporating the answer to one of the hypothetical he posed to the vocational expert (“VE”) when determining that, considering Stone’s age, education, work experience, and residual functioning capacity (“RFC”), jobs existed in the national economy that she could perform.

In Social Security appeals, we review the decision of an ALJ as the Commissioner’s final decision when the ALJ denies benefits and the Appeals Council denies review of the ALJ’s decision. Doughty v. Apfel, 245 F.3d 1274, 1278 (11th Cir.2001). We review the Commissioner’s legal conclusions de novo and consider whether the Commissioner’s factual findings are sup[*879] ported by substantial evidence. Lewis v. Barnhart, 285 F.3d 1329, 1330 (11th Cir. 2002). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440 (11th Cir. 1997). We “may not decide facts anew, reweigh the evidence, or substitute our judgment for that of the Commissioner.” Dyer v. Barnhart, 395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir.2005) (quotation and alteration omitted).

An individual claiming Social Security disability benefits must prove that she is disabled. Jones v. Apfel, 190 F.3d 1224, 1228 (11th Cir.1999). For SSI claims, a claimant becomes eligible in the first month where she is both disabled and has an SSI application on file. 20 C.F.R. § 416.202-03. Unlike SSI, which has no insured-status requirement, a claimant seeking DIB must demonstrate disability on or before the last date on which she was insured, to be eligible for benefits. Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir.2005).

“Disability” is defined as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable impairment that can be expected to result in death or that 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), 1382c(a)(3)(A). A person will be found disabled only if her impairments are so severe that they prevent her from engaging in any kind of substantial gainful work that exists in the national economy. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(2)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(B).

The Social Security regulations establish a five-step, “sequential” process for determining whether a claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(1). If an ALJ finds a claimant disabled or not disabled at any given step, the ALJ does not go on to the next step. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4). At the first step, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant is currently engaged in substantial gainful activity. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(f). At the second step, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment or combination of impairments for which the claimant allegedly suffers is “severe.” Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(ii). At the third step, the ALJ must decide whether the claimant’s severe impairments meet or medically equal a listed impairment. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iii). If not, the ALJ must then determine at step four whether the claimant has the RFC to perform her past relevant work. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(iv). If the claimant cannot perform her past relevant work, the ALJ must determine at step five whether the claimant can make an adjustment to other work, considering the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and work experience. Id. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v). An ALJ may make this determination either by applying the Medical Vocational Guidelines or by obtaining the testimony of a VE. Winschel v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 631 F.3d 1176, 1180 (11th Cir.2011).

The Fifth Circuit has held that it was reasonable for an ALJ to reject expert testimony where the objective medical evidence ultimately did not coincide with the hypothetical assumptions posed to the VE. See Owens v. Heckler, 770 F.2d 1276, 1282 (5th Cir.1985). The Ninth Circuit also has held that an ALJ was free to accept or reject restrictions in a hypothetical question that were not supported by substantial evidence, even when the hypothetical was posited by the ALJ and not counsel. See Osenbrock v. Apfel, 240 F.3d 1157, 1164-65 (9th Cir.2001).

The claimant bears the burden of proving that she is disabled, and, thus, is responsible for producing evidence to support her claim. Ellison v. Barnhart, 355[*880] F.3d 1272, 1276 (11th Cir.2008). The Commissioner, however, has a limited burden at step five to show that a significant number of jobs exist that a claimant can perform. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), 416.920(a)(4)(v).

We may not reweigh evidence; and more than a “mere scintilla” of evidence supports the ALJ’s conclusion that jobs existed in significant numbers in the national economy that Stone could perform, even accounting for her mental health limitations. See Dyer, 395 F.3d at 1210; Lewis, 125 F.3d at 1440. The ALJ reasonably rejected VE testimony when the hypothetical was not supported by the record’s medical evidence. See Owens, 770 F.2d at 1282; Osenbrock, 240 F.3d at 1164-65. The ALJ’s determination that there were jobs in the national economy that Stone could perform is supported by substantial evidence.

AFFIRMED.