Debbie A. JOHNSON, Appellant, v. Shirley S. CHATER, Comm'r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., Appellee, 108 F.3d 178 (8th Cir. 1997). · Go Syfert
Debbie A. JOHNSON, Appellant, v. Shirley S. CHATER, Comm'r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., Appellee, 108 F.3d 178 (8th Cir. 1997). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“finally, the commissioner's decision to deny johnson disability benefits is bolstered by the fact that johnson received unemployment compensation during the time she claims to have been disabled.”
559 citation events (541 in the last 25 years) across 48 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Jones v. Social Security Administration (ared, 2021-11-01) · Strongest negative: Eric Michael Kay v. Kilolo Kijakazi (cacd, 2022-03-31)
Treatment trajectory · 1997 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1997 2011 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited "but see" Eric Michael Kay v. Kilolo Kijakazi
C.D. Cal. · 2022 · signal: but see · confidence high
Appx. 420, 422 (9th 14 Cir. 2017) (noting that the Ninth Circuit has never found a number similar to 15 12,600 national jobs to be significant); Gutierrez v. Comm’r, 740 F.3d 519 , 528-29 16 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs is a close call but sufficient); but see Johnson 17 v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs, which were 18 merely representative of a larger category of jobs claimant could perform, was 19 significant). 20 Accordingly, the ALJ’s step five finding was not supported by substantial 21 evidence. 22 C.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Jones v. Social Security Administration
E.D. Ark. · 2021 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
as few as 10,000 jobs is a sufficient number to constitute significant national work
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Ingvalson v. Saul
D. Minnesota · 2021 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
a claimant may admit an ability to work by applying for unemployment compensation benefits because such an applicant must hold himself out as available, willing and able to work.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Murphy v. Colvin (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
N.D. Iowa · 2014 · signal: see, e.g. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
finally, the commissioner's decision to deny johnson disability benefits is bolstered by the fact that johnson received unemployment compensation during the time she claims to have been disabled.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Paula W. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security
C.D. Ill. · 2026 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014); and then citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matthew R. Snyder v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2026 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); and Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 national jobs)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) M.J. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security
D.S.D. · 2026 · confidence medium
DISCUSSION A. Standard of Review When reviewing a denial of benefits, the court will uphold the Commissioner’s final decision if it is supported by “substantial evidence [i]n the record as a whole.” 42 U.S.C. § 405 (g); Minor v. Astrue, 574 F.3d 625, 627 (8th Cir. 2009) (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 179 (8th Cir. 1997)). “[S]ubstantial evidence [is] defined as ‘more than a mere scintilla.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Stephen B. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security
E.D. Wis. · 2025 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); and Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 national jobs).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Kareem Tavares Martin v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
E.D. Ark. · 2025 · confidence medium
Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rondeau v. Bisignano
D. Minnesota · 2025 · confidence medium
(R. 26-27, 65.) The Eighth Circuit “leave[s] to the trial judge’s common sense the application of the significant numbers requirement to a particular claimant’s factual situation.” Hall v. Chater, 109 F.3d 1255, 1259 (8th Cir. 1997) (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir.1997)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hogue v. O'Malley
W.D. La. · 2025 · confidence medium
This incidence of work constitutes a significant number (and range) of jobs in the “national economy.” 42 U.S.C. § 423 (d)(2)(A); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 181 (8th Cir. 1997) (200 jobs at state level and 10,000 nationally, constitute a significant number). 6 phalanx of the thumb.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Williams-Tibbs v. Social Security
W.D. La. · 2025 · confidence medium
This incidence of work constitutes a significant number (and range) of jobs in the “national economy.” 42 U.S.C. § 423 (d)(2)(A); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 181 (8th Cir. 1997) (200 jobs at state level and 10,000 nationally, constitute a significant number). 7 numbness, tingling, and fatigue.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Snyder v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2025 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs))); see also Teresa M., No. 20-C-859, 2022 WL 17406596 , at *8 (same).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Givens v. Bisignano
N.D. Ill. · 2025 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107, 1110-11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 national jobs)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) RISPO v. O'MALLEY (2×)
E.D. Pa. · 2025 · confidence medium
(See R. 57 (40,000 food and beverage clerk positions available in the national economy); see also Young v. Astrue, 519 F. App’x 769, 772 (3d Cir. 2013) (although “no precise estimate for what constitutes ‘significant numbers’ of jobs under the Social Security Act” exists, 20,000 would suffice) (citing 20 C.F.R. § 404.1566 ; Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997))); Johnson, 108 F.3d at 180 (10,000 jobs nationally was sufficient).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (SS) Wilcox v. Commissioner of Social Security
E.D. Cal. · 2025 · confidence medium
Although Gutierrez 24 acknowledges that 25,000 was a “close call,” that hardly precludes a finding that 22,000 would 25 also be a “close call” but still a significant number.9 The Court finds the ALJ’s decision that a 26 9 The Ninth Circuit noted that another Circuit had found as few as 10,000 jobs nationally to 27 constitute a significant number. 740 F.3d at 529 (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997)); but see Randazzo v. Berryhill, 725 F. App’x 446 , 448 (9th Cir. 2017) (ALJ’s 28 (continued…) 1 | significant number of jobs existed that Plaintiff could pe…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Campbell v. O'Malley
E.D. Mo. · 2025 · confidence medium
See Weiler v. Apfel, 189 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (find that 32,000 jobs in the national economy satisfied the ALJ’s burden); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (finding that the 10,000 jobs in the national economy satisfied the ALJ’s burden).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Webb v. King
S.D.W. Va · 2025 · confidence medium
Sec., 13 F.4th 1309 , 1318 (11th Cir. 2021) (“Whether there are a significant number of jobs a claimant is able to perform with his limitations is a question of fact to be determined by a judicial officer”); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (explaining that the determination of “whether work exists in significant numbers . . . should ultimately be left to the [factfinder’s] common sense in weighing the statutory language as applied to a particular claimant’s factual situation”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Brown v. Social Security Administration
E.D. Ark. · 2025 · confidence medium
Bare a Utovee UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE The Eighth Circuit has held that “as few as 10,000 national jobs [is] a sufficient number to constitute significant national work.” Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997). 12
cited Cited as authority (rule) Acevedo v. O'Malley
N.D. Ill. · 2024 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs), and Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs)); see also Akindayo O.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Acosta-Perez v. Commissioner of Social Security
D.P.R. · 2024 · confidence medium
Me. 2010) (“The figure of 11,000 jobs nationwide is in line with what courts have held to be a ‘significant’ number for purposes of Step 5 analysis.”); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (holding “200 jobs of addresser or document preparer in Iowa and 10,000 in the national economy” was sufficient for step five).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hennings v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Iowa · 2024 · confidence medium
A., 2024 WL 841270 , at *7 (quoting Alice T., 2021 WL 5302141 , at *17). 48 Hayden, 2020 WL 888002 , at *11 (quoting Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997)). 49 Samantha M.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) West v. O'Malley
N.D. Ill. · 2024 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997); Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107, 1110-11 (8th Cir. 1999)); DuCharme, 2022 WL 3287974 , at *3 (“We've already affirmed an ALJ’s finding that 30,000 jobs was sufficient, [], and other courts have held that similar numbers fit comfortably within what courts have deemed significant.”) (cleaned up); Collins, 743 F. App’x at 25-26 (explaining that 55,000 jobs “is a significant number of jobs in the national economy”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Ortiz v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D.N.Y. · 2024 · confidence medium
Me. 2010) (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997); McGee v. Astrue, CV No. 08- 0831, 2009 WL 2841113 , at *6 n.14 (W.D.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Anderson v. O'Malley
D. Minnesota · 2024 · confidence medium
Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997); Hall v. Chater, 109 F.3d 1255, 1258-59 (8th Cir. 1997).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) KOSSUP v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY (2×)
D.N.J. · 2024 · confidence medium
Sec., 705 F. App’x 95, 98-99 (3d Cir. 2017) (finding that 18,000 jobs were sufficiently “significant” to support the ALJ's decision), citing, Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (finding that 10,000 jobs in the national economy was sufficiently significant).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Anderson v. O'Malley (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
D. Minnesota · 2024 · confidence medium
Johnson also found significant the fact that “[a]t the time of the hearing before the ALJ, [the claimant] was engaged in one of the sedentary jobs that the vocational expert said she was capable of performing.” 108 F.3d at 180 (footnote omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Crace v. Social Security Administration
E.D. Ark. · 2024 · confidence medium
The ALJ did not err at Step Two, Step Three, or Step Five, and the RFC fully incorporated Crace’s credible limitations. 12 The Eighth Circuit has held that “as few as 10,000 national jobs [is] a sufficient number to constitute significant national work.” Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997). 13 The Commissioner may meet his burden at Step Five by eliciting testimony from a VE in response to “a properly phrased hypothetical question that captures the concrete consequences of a claimant’s deficiencies.” Porch v. Chater, 115 F.3d 567, 572 (8th Cir. 1997).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Comer v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ohio · 2023 · confidence medium
Sec., 705 F. App’x 95, 99 (3rd Cir. 2017) (18,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); Kimberly T. v. Kijakazi, No. 3:20-CV-1543-SI, 2022 U.S. Dist.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rodriguez-Alicea v. Commissioner of Social Security
D.P.R. · 2023 · confidence medium
Me. 2010) (“The figure of 11,000 jobs nationwide is in line with what courts have held to be a ‘significant’ number for purposes of Step 5 analysis.”); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (holding “200 jobs of addresser or document preparer in Iowa and 10,000 in the national economy” was sufficient for step five).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Braunschweig v. Kijakazi
D. Minnesota · 2023 · confidence medium
Though not strictly applying this test, in Johnson v. Chater the Eighth Circuit held the Commissioner had met her burden when the VE identified 200 jobs locally and 10,000 jobs nationally, and the jobs the VE identified were merely a subsample of a larger category of jobs the plaintiff could perform. 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997).5 See also Jenkins v. Bowen, 861 F.2d 1083, 1087 (8th Cir. 1988) (finding that 500 jobs in the regional economy constitutes a significant number of jobs).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Upton v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2023 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 jobs nationwide); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs nationwide); and Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 jobs nationwide)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Marshall v. Social Security Administration
N.D. Okla. · 2023 · confidence medium
Sec., 819 F.3d 902, 905 (6th Cir. 2016); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997). undersigned to supply the determination that 27,000 jobs constitutes a significant number of jobs in the national economy.
cited Cited as authority (rule) (SS) Valdez v. Commissioner of Social Security
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
Id. 13 (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Witczak v. Commissioner of Social Security
W.D.N.Y. · 2023 · confidence medium
Wash. Feb. 8, 2010) (9,000 jobs in the national economy was found significant) (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs in the national economy was found significant)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Walter v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2023 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 jobs nationwide); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs nationwide); and Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 jobs nationwide)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bradshaw v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2023 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 jobs nationwide); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs nationwide); and Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 jobs nationwide)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) ANDERSON v. KIJAKAZI
S.D. Ind. · 2023 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110– 11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 national jobs)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Maldonado v. Commissioner of Social Security
S.D.N.Y. · 2023 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Taskila v. Commissioner of Social Security, 819 F.3d 902, 905 (6th Cir. 2016) (6,000 jobs nationally was significant); Rogers v. Astrue, 312 F. App’x 138, 142 (10th Cir. 2009) (11,000 jobs nationally was significant); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs nationally was significant); Riffee v. Kijakazi, No. 20-CV-1328, 2021 WL 3913972 , at *2-3 (W.D.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hoskins v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 national jobs)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Harry v. Kijakazi
E.D. Wis. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 jobs)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Turner v. Social Security Administration
E.D. Ark. · 2022 · confidence medium
Id. 7 The Eighth Circuit has held that “as few as 10,000 national jobs [is] a sufficient number to constitute significant national work.” Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997). 8 When evaluating a claimant's subjective complaints of pain, the ALJ must consider objective medical evidence, the claimant's work history, and other evidence relating to (1) the claimant's daily activities; (2) the duration, frequency, and intensity of the pain; (3) precipitating and aggravating factors; (4) the dosage, effectiveness, and side effects of medication; and (5) the claimant's functional…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Karrine Milhem v. Kilolo Kijakazi
7th Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 529 (9th Cir. 2014) (25,000 national jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000 national jobs); Weiler v. Apfel, 179 F.3d 1107 , 1110–11 (8th Cir. 1999) (32,000 national jobs).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jaffarali v. Saul
N.D. Ill. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 528-29 (9th Cir. 2014) (finding 25,000 jobs in the national economy significant); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (finding 10,000 jobs in the national economy significant).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Johnson v. Commissioner of Social Security
N.D. Ind. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sec., 819 F.3d 902, 905 (6th Cir. 2016) (6,000 jobs); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (10,000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Morales v. Saul
N.D. Ill. · 2022 · confidence medium
Sec., 740 F.3d 519, 528-29 (9th Cir. 2014) (finding 25,000 jobs in the national economy significant); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (finding 10,000 jobs in the national economy significant).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Harris v. O'Malley
N.D. Ill. · 2022 · confidence medium
Security, 819 F.3d 902, 905 (6th Cir. 2016) (finding 6,000 jobs in the national economy significant); Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (finding 10,000 jobs in the national economy significant).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Stover v. Saul
D.S.D. · 2022 · confidence medium
DISCUSSION A. Standard of Review When reviewing a denial of benefits, the court will uphold the Commissioner’s final decision if it is supported by “substantial evidence [i]n the record as a whole.” 42 U.S.C. § 405 (g); Minor v. Astrue, 574 F.3d 625, 627 (8th Cir. 2009) (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 179 (8th Cir. 1997)). “[S]ubstantial evidence [is] defined as ‘more than a mere scintilla.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ryherd v. Kijakazi
E.D. Mo. · 2022 · confidence medium
E.g., Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997) (affirming finding that 10,000 jobs in the national economy and 200 in state constitute a significant number); Long v. Chater, 108 F.3d 185, 188 (8th Cir. 1997) (affirming finding that 30,000 jobs in national economy and 650 jobs in state constitute a significant number).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Stubblefield v. Kijakazi
D. Neb. · 2022 · confidence medium
Aug. 29, 2019) (citing Johnson v. Chater, 108 F.3d 178, 180 (8th Cir. 1997)) (finding substantial evidence supported an ALJ’s determination that a significant number of jobs exist where 13,000 jobs were available nationally for the claimant); see Beckham v. Comm'r, Soc.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
52 soc.sec.rep.ser. 791, unempl.ins.rep. (Cch) P 15683b Debbie A. Johnson
v.
Shirley S. Chater, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
96-2614.
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
May 12, 1997.
108 F.3d 178
John August Bowman, Davenport, IA, argued (Thomas A. Krause, on the brief), for Appellant., Charlotte Geraldine Brown Umphenour, Kansas City, MO, argued (Christopher Donald Hagen and Frank Smith, III, on the brief), for Appellee.
Magill, McMILLIAN, Webber.
Cited by 180 opinions  |  Published
MAGILL, Circuit Judge.

Debbie Johnson appeals the denial of Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits. The Social Security Commissioner (Commissioner) denied' Johnson benefits after determining that, although Johnson could not return to her former work, she could perform jobs that existed in significant numbers in the national economy. Johnson’s sole claim on appeal is that the vocational expert’s testimony is insufficient to meet the Commissioner’s burden of proof. We disagree and affirm.

I.

Johnson claims to be disabled because of a back injury she suffered in a car accident in January 1992. She applied for disability benefits on July 26, 1993. The Commissioner denied her initial request for benefits and again denied her request for benefits on reconsideration. Johnson appealed the denial to an administrative law judge (ALJ). After holding a hearing, the ALJ denied Johnson’s request for disability benefits. Johnson appealed the ALJ’s decision to an administrative appeals council, which also denied Johnson’s request for disability benefits. Johnson then sought judicial review of the council’s denial of benefits in district court. [2] The[*179] district court affirmed the decision of the Commissioner to deny benefits. Johnson now appeals the district court’s decision.

Johnson is thirty-six years old and has had severe back problems ever, since she was involved in a car accident in January 1992. She has two herniated disks, and alleges obesity, headaches, and dizziness as further causes of severe impairment. She has been examined by a variety of physicians who have come to a variety of different conclusions about her medical condition. None of the physicians, however, has advised her to stop working. At least one physician has concluded that Johnson should not lift anything above thirty pounds. Johnson’s own remarks to her treating physicians about her headaches and dizziness are inconsistent. She has stated that her headaches and dizziness are severe enough to require missing work two days a week, but she has also denied having headaches and dizziness. The ALJ found that Johnson held a job as a telemarketer after her alleged onset of disability date, but that she quit the job because of a pay cut.

Johnson is a single parent who lives with her eleven-year-old daughter in a two-story duplex. She has stated that, although her daughter normally washes the dishes, she does light housekeeping and the cooking. In addition, Johnson drives her daughter to and from school and drives to and from work and church. This amounts to about thirty miles of driving each week.

According to the ALJ, Johnson’s impairments or combination of impairments do not meet or equal the criteria of any impairment listed in the Social Security Regulation’s Listing of Impairments. See 20 C.F.R. § 404, Subpt. P, App. 1. Johnson takes no medication for her lower back pain, although she describes the pain as persistent. Johnson has not sought medical treatment since October 1993. She has never been treated for her alleged headaches and dizziness.

Although the ALJ determined that Johnson could not return to her past relevant work, the ALJ also found that Johnson is capable of performing jobs that “exist[ ] in significant numbers in the national economy- Examples of such jobs are: addres-ser, document preparer, and telemarketer.” ALJ Op. at 13, Finding No. 11. In support of this finding, the ALJ noted that the vocational expert said that Johnson could perform sedentary, unskilled labor like that of an addresser or a document preparer, of which “there are 200 positions in Iowa and 10,000 positions nationwide.” ALJ Op. at 10. The ALJ specifically noted that the vocational expert had stated that these figures were “just a representative sampling of a larger number of jobs the claimant was capable of doing,” including telemarketing, a job in which the claimant was employed at the time of the hearing. Id. (emphasis added).

Based on the ALJ’s findings that Johnson is able to perform jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy, the Commissioner denied Johnson’s request for disability benefits. On appeal, Johnson maintains that there do not exist in “significant numbers” jobs that she is capable of performing and, as a result, the Commissioner did not meet her burden of proof to show that Johnson is not disabled under the Social Security Act.

II.

When reviewing the Commissioner’s decision to deny benefits to a claimant, this Court must determine “whether there is substantial evidence based on the entire record to support the ALJ’s factual findings, and whether his decision was based on legal error.” Clark v. Chater, 75 F.3d 414, 416 (8th Cir.1996); see also 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (1994). Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Clark, 75 F.3d at 416 (quotations and citation omitted). This Court must consider “both evidence that supports and evidence that detracts from the Secretary’s decision, but we may not reverse merely because substantial evidence exists for the opposite decision.” Johnson v. Chater, 87 F.3d 1015, 1017 (8th Cir.1996). The ALJ may discount subjective complaints that are inconsistent with medical reports, daily[*180] activities, and other evidence. See Haynes v. Shalala, 26 F.3d 812, 814-15 (8th Cir.1994).

The ALJ found that Johnson could not return to her past relevant work. As a result, the burden shifted to the Commissioner to prove that Johnson is not disabled under the Social Security Act. See Pickner v. Sullivan, 985 F.2d 401, 403 (8th Cir.1993) (“Only after the claimant establishes that a disability precludes performance of past relevant work will the burden shift to the Secretary to prove that the claimant can perform work.”); Evans v. Shalala, 21 F.3d 832, 835 (8th Cir.1994). The burden was on the Commissioner to demonstrate that there are other jobs available in the national economy that Johnson can perform. See Evans, 21 F.3d at 835; see also 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A) (1994); 20 C.F.R. § 404.1560, § 404.1561 (1996).

One way in which the Commissioner can meet the burden of proof necessary to show that a claimant who suffers from nonexer-tional pain is not disabled under the Social Security Act is through the testimony of a vocational expert. Evans, 21 F.3d at 835. Hypothetical questions posed to the vocational expert “need only include those impairments that the ALJ accepts as true.” Haynes, 26 F.3d at 815; see also House v. Shalala, 34 F.3d 691, 694 (8th Cir.1994).

To decide whether work exists in significant numbers, this Circuit has adopted the standards set forth in Hall v. Bowen, 837 F.2d 272, 275 (6th Cir.1988). See Jenkins v. Bowen, 861 F.2d 1083, 1087 (8th Cir.1988) (adopting Hall). After discussing certain factors that a judge might consider in making this determination, such as the reliability of the claimant’s and the vocational expert’s testimony, the Hall court stated that “[t]he decision should ultimately be left to the trial judge’s common sense in weighing the statutory language as applied to a particular claimant’s factual situation.” Jenkins, 861 F.2d at 1087 (quoting Hall, 837 F.2d at 275).

Here, the Commissioner met her burden of showing that Johnson is not disabled because the vocational expert’s testimony was sufficient to show that there exist a significant number of jobs in the economy that Johnson can perform. The vocational expert testified that a person like Johnson could perform sedentary, unskilled labor. The vocational expert noted that the addresser and document preparer jobs were sedentary, unskilled labor that Johnson could perform, and that there existed 200 jobs of addresser or document preparer in Iowa and 10,000 in the national economy. The vocational expert further testified that these figures .were merely representative of a larger category of jobs that Johnson could perform, including telemarketing. The vocational expert did not give figures to describe the total number of unskilled, sedentary jobs in Iowa or the national economy. However, at the time of the hearing before the ALJ, Johnson was engaged in one of the sedentary jobs that the vocational expert said she was capable of performing, telemarketing. [3]

Finally, the Commissioner’s decision to deny Johnson disability benefits is bolstered by the fact that Johnson received unemployment compensation during the time she claims to have been disabled. This Court has noted that “[a] claimant may admit an ability to work by applying for unemployment compensation benefits because such an applicant must hold himself out as available, willing and able to work.” Jernigan v. Sullivan, 948 F.2d 1070, 1074 (8th Cir.1991); see also Barrett v. Shalala, 38 F.3d 1019, 1024 (8th Cir.1994). Applying for unemployment benefits “may be some evidence, though not[*181] conclusive,- to negate” a claim of disability. Jemigcm, 948 F.2d at 1074.

III.

Because the Commissioner’s decision to deny benefits was supported by substantial evidence, we affirm.

2

. The Honorable Charles R. Wolle, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa.

3

. Johnson relies on several district court cases to attempt to bolster her contention that 200 jobs in Iowa is not a significant number of jobs and that the Commissioner consequently failed to show that Johnson is not disabled. See, e.g., Jimenez v. Shalala, 879 F.Supp. 1069, 1076 (D.Colo.1995) (holding that "200-250 jobs spread across Colorado is not significant”); Waters v. Secretary, 827 F.Supp. 446, 449 (W.D.Mich. 1992) (holding that 1000 jobs in Michigan, all of which would require at least 180 miles of travel to get to them, is not a significant number). These cases are unpersuasive, however, particularly in light of the overall record before this Court. The cases Johnson cites are all fact-intensive, and none stand for the proposition that 200 jobs in Iowa is not a significant number.