BLOG

Before diving into the details, a quick shout-out to Jennifer Van Fossan and Dennis Fox for their excellent work on Littrell v. O'Malley , issued on October 4, 2024. This case brought an interesting split in the Eighth Circuit — complete with a dissenting opinion! Background of the Case Littrell appealed the denial of her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Her main argument? The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) didn’t properly consider her chronic back and knee pain.

The Ninth Circuit has once again clarified an essential principle in disability law: Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) must explain their changes in findings. In Gageby v. Dudek, the Court reversed and remanded after an ALJ downgraded a claimant’s concentration, persistence, and pace (CPP) rating without any explanation. Case Background: What Happened The ALJ initially found moderate CPP limitations. After the district court remanded the case to consider Dr. Campion’s opinion,

Another day, another uphill climb for Social Security disability claimants. The Tenth Circuit recently issued another affirmance — this time in Fager v. Commissioner of Social Security , upholding the denial of SSI benefits. The opinion runs 21 pages, so let’s break down the key takeaways. Background Fager, a former legal secretary and housekeeper with a degree in anthropology, applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2017. She alleged disability due to: Back injurie

Swanson applied for disability insurance benefits alleging chronic pain and mobility problems. The case had already been remanded once....

The Eleventh Circuit’s recent opinion in Dubose v. Commissioner of Social Security  offers a valuable refresher on three recurring...

Every disability appeal has two moving parts : The law (statutes, regulations, case precedent) The record (medical evidence, testimony,...

Fibromyalgia continues to challenge both claimants and adjudicators in Social Security disability law. The Seventh Circuit’s recent...

Madkins, a machine operator, suffered back problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and depression after a work injury. He applied for Social...

On October 29, 2024 , the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals  upheld the denial of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  benefits for a young...

The case of Green v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration (2018)  is a powerful reminder of how Veterans’ disability ratings...

In December 2024, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decided a case called Schmitz v. Colvin . The case involved a 52-year-old woman...

When it comes to Social Security disability appeals in federal court, there are always two battles: Winning the case. Getting paid for...

When handling children's disability claims, the SSA’s Listing of Impairments (20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, Appx. 1) is our first...

The Seventh Circuit recently weighed in on a Social Security disability appeal that highlights a recurring tension in our field: how ALJs...

Background: Who Is Herkert and What Happened Mary Frances Herkert , a GS-13 Branch Chief at the Social Security Administration (SSA) with...

Sometimes you read a case and want to bang your head against the wall. Nadon v. Bisignano  from the Ninth Circuit is one of those. It’s a...

In Boonthong v. Commissioner of Social Security , No. 24-3921 (9th Cir. July 22, 2025), the Ninth Circuit reminds us that not all...

In Drumgold v. Commissioner of Social Security  (4th Cir. 2025), the court affirmed the ALJ’s denial of disability benefits, offering a...

Let’s talk about Walls v. Bisignano , a case that highlights the continued tension between ALJ discretion and the requirement for...

Flinton applied for Social Security disability benefits in 2015 after being hospitalized for schizophrenia. Her claim was denied in 2018...