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A new Ninth Circuit decision came down on April 7, 2026, and if you're handling Social Security disability claims, it's worth a careful read. Cloninger v. Bisignano is the kind of case that doesn't make headlines, but its logic will be familiar, and cautionary, to any practitioner in this space. Here's the short version: Cloninger applied for disability insurance benefits under Title II. The ALJ denied her claim. The district court upheld it. The Ninth Circuit affirmed. The r

If you represent claimants in childhood Social Security disability cases, the Ninth Circuit's recent decision in Jenson v. Bisignano is one you'll want to pull up and annotate. It's a unanimous affirmance that touches nearly every major stage of the childhood disability analysis, and it sends a clear message about just how much deference ALJs can command when the record is built the right way. Here's a close read of what happened, where the claimant's arguments fell short, a

In Shillington v. Bisignano, No. 24-6894 (9th Cir. 2026), the Ninth Circuit delivered a clear reminder to Social Security disability practitioners: overturning an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decision remains an uphill battle — even when errors exist. For claimants and attorneys handling SSDI appeals in the Ninth Circuit, this case reinforces long-standing principles about the deferential “substantial evidence” standard of review. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happene

The United States Court of Appeals for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently issued a non-published decision in Varnon v. Commissioner of Social Security that highlights just how deferential the “substantial evidence” standard can be in Social Security disability appeals. For claimants and attorneys alike, the decision serves as an important reminder: even when the record contains conflicting evidence, courts often defer to the Administrative

Sometimes Social Security appeals feel routine—until a procedural issue forces everyone to slow down. The Sixth Circuit did exactly that in Follen v. Commissioner of Social Security (No. 25-3135, Feb. 11, 2026) , issuing a reminder that § 405(g) only authorizes two kinds of remands —and courts cannot invent a third. What Happened in Follen After answering the complaint, the Commissioner moved for a remand so the ALJ could “further articulate” the persuasiveness of the evid

This Ninth Circuit memorandum opinion doesn’t break new legal ground—but it reinforces several recurring themes in social security appeals, especially when records are thin and arguments are underdeveloped. Key Takeaways Appeals fail when records lack support and arguments are weak. Claimants must clearly articulate legal theories at every step. The Ninth Circuit will affirm favorable agency decisions when plaintiffs don’t carry their burden. Step Two: “Severe” Means Function

In Welch v. Bisignano (Jan. 9, 2026), the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the denial of disabled child’s insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). While the outcome isn’t surprising, the reasoning offers important reminders for disability advocates—especially regarding how diagnoses, impairments, and medical evidence are evaluated. Diagnosis Alone Is Not a Medically Determinable Impairment (MDI) Q: Does having a diagnosis guarantee a medically determi

For practitioners litigating mental-health disability claims, the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Laird v. Bisignano, No. 25-50347 (5th Cir. Jan. 8, 2026), offers both guidance and caution. The case delves into the application of Listings 12.04 and 12.06, particularly under Paragraph C – marginal adjustment. Overview of the Case The claimant in Laird alleged disability based on bipolar disorder and anxiety, asserting that he met the criteria under Paragraph C of the relevant ment

Let’s take a trip back to 1971 , when a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case changed the way Social Security disability claims are handled. Richardson v. Perales was the first major case to address the procedural standards in Social Security disability hearings. The Court ruled that the Social Security Administration (SSA) could rely on written medical reports , even if the doctors who authored them did not testify in person. This decision has had a lasting impact on how disa

If you litigate Social Security Disability (SSD) cases in the Fourth Circuit, Hultz v. Bisignano is a decision you’ll want to keep close. This case builds on Arakas v. Commissioner and provides a strong reminder, and a warning, about how fibromyalgia claims must be properly evaluated. Hultz Reinforces Arakas: No Objective Evidence Requirement for Fibromyalgia The core error in Hultz involved the ALJ denying benefits by discounting subjective symptoms simply because they we

A Case That Shouldn’t Have Gone This Far It took a trip all the way to the Ninth Circuit to clarify something fundamental: Step Two of the Social Security disability process is a minimal threshold , not a high bar. Fortunately, Josephine Gerrard stepped in and delivered an outstanding oral argument on behalf of her client, Combest , leading to a much-needed remand . Background on the Claimant Combest suffers from the following medically documented impairments : Fibromyalgia

Every so often, a Social Security case reads less like routine administrative law and more like a cautionary tale about delay, broken process, and institutional fatigue. Hicks v. Commissioner , a decision issued by the Sixth Circuit , is one of those cases. Background: The Hicks Case Hicks was awarded Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2008. Her case was later entangled in the Eric Conn / ALJ Daugherty fraud scandal , despite her having no involvement in the misconduct.

As the holiday season wraps up and the New Year approaches, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit quietly issued a decision that Social Security disability practitioners should not overlook: Nunez v. Commissioner of Social Security . This decision reinforces a critical point in Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) analysis: there must be a clear connection between acknowledged mental limitations and the actual functional limitations reflected in the RFC. Key Issue

A recent Ninth Circuit decision — Romero v. Bisignano (Nov. 12, 2025) — provides a timely reminder that reasoning-level conflicts between a claimant’s RFC and jobs identified at Step Five cannot be ignored. For Social Security Disability attorneys, especially those practicing in the Ninth Circuit, this case underscores two critical points: Reasoning levels still matter. ALJs must explicitly reconcile conflicts on the record. What Happened in Romero v. Bisignano? In Romero, th

When an ALJ acknowledges “moderate limitations” in areas like attention and attendance, but then crafts an RFC with no actual restrictions on staying on task or consistent attendance , the Second Circuit isn’t buying it. This decision is a must-read for anyone handling mental-health disability claims. ⚖️ The Big Picture In Nunez , the Second Circuit vacated the denial of benefits because the ALJ’s RFC failed to translate recognized limitations into meaningful functional res

You know who gets genuinely excited about a good transferable skills analysis? This girl right here. And let me tell you, I've got a fresh-off-the-press Tenth Circuit remand that deserves a permanent spot in your Social Security litigation toolkit. The Case: Morgan v. Commissioner, SSA , No. 24-8085 (10th Cir. Oct. 9, 2025) Meet Rose Morgan. She spent 14 years as a buyer for the Wyoming Department of Transportation—not exactly a walk in the park. Her job involved soliciting b

Every so often, the Ninth Circuit drops a decision that brings home the realities of Social Security disability litigation—Phillips v. Bisignano is one of those. Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know Phillips asked the ALJ to reopen a prior application. But without a solid due process argument or “good cause” under § 404.911(b), the Ninth Circuit rejected the request. The ALJ discounted multiple medical opinions (from Eastman, Wingate, Jaura, Fernandez, Marshall) because they:

When it comes to children applying for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Listing of Impairments (20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, Appx. 1) is often the first and most critical checkpoint. But what happens when a child’s condition doesn’t neatly meet those listing criteria? The 2013 Ninth Circuit case Mattison ex rel. K.A. v. Astrue offers important lessons on how SSA evaluates childhood disability — and how attorneys should

It’s that time of year when few court decisions are issued, the quiet stretch after the holidays. Yet, on December 26, 2019 , the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals released an important ruling in Zuniga v. Commissioner of Social Security , a case that continues to shape how Social Security disability appeals are reviewed. Let’s break it down. 👇 Background of the Case Zuniga appealed the denial of her Social Security disability benefits after two remands from the district cour

The Ninth Circuit’s decision in Putz v. Bisignano (October 28, 2025) doesn’t change the law—but it reinforces what the court continues to expect when reviewing ALJ reasoning in Social Security disability cases. Case Background The claimant, Putz, appealed the denial of disability benefits. Both the district court and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the ALJ’s decision.The familiar issues included: Evaluation of medical opinions Symptom testimony Lay witness statements Residual Fun