(SS) Stoy v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

14 Plaintiff Catherine Helen Stoy seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner 15 of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying her applications for disability 16 insurance benefits (“DIB”) and supplemental security income (“SSI”) pursuant to Titles II and XVI, 17 respectively, of the Social Security Act. For the reasons stated below, substantial evidence and 18 applicable law support the ALJ’s decision that Plaintiff was not disabled.1

II. Factual and Procedural Background2

20 On October 26, 2020, Plaintiff applied for DIB and SSI benefits alleging disability as of 21 March 15, 2018, due to rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and anxiety. The Commissioner denied 22 the applications initially on September 9, 2021, and on reconsideration on November 22, 2021. A 23 hearing was held before an Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) on December 21, 2022. AR 81– 24 107. On February 14, 2023, the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision. AR 18–34. The Appeals 25 Council denied review on December 7, 2023 (AR 1–7) and this appeal followed.

1 The parties consented to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge. …