Brenda L. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff applied for benefits in 2021, alleging disability beginning March

1 The Court partially redacts Plaintiff’s name in compliance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c)(2)(B) and the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States. 2 Frank Bisignano became the Commissioner of Social Security on May 6, 2025. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), he is automatically substituted for Leland Dudek as Defendant in this action. 14, 2012. See Dkt. 9, Administrative Record (“AR”) 212-15.3 Plaintiff’s date last insured is December 31, 2016. See AR 22. Plaintiff’s claims were denied initially on January 10, 2022, see AR 95-98, and upon reconsideration on October 6, 2022, see AR 101-05. Plaintiff requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) and received a hearing on November 8, 2023. See AR 22, 43-69. The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on February 26, 2024. See AR 19-35. The ALJ followed the five-step sequential evaluation process for determining whether an individual is disabled. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a). At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not…