Nickel

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

Plaintiff filed this action seeking reversal of the decision of defendant, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (the “Commissioner”), denying plaintiffs application for disability insurance benefits. Plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment, and the Commissioner filed a cross-motion for summary judgment.

Administrative Proceedings

Plaintiff filed an application for disability insurance benefits on August 15, 1997, alleging that she had been disabled since November 9, 1996, due to paralysis of her right arm and hand from a car accident, pain and weakness in her left arm, left leg, back, neck, and shoulders, headaches, and concentration and memory problems. [Administrative Record (“AR”) 55-57, 76, 82]. Plaintiffs application was denied on the ground that she lacked sufficient quarters of covered earnings to be considered insured under Title II of the Social Security Act (the “Act”). [AR 14, 59-62], Plaintiff requested an administrative hearing, which was conducted before Administrative Law Judge Dean K. Franks (the “ALJ”) on November 17, 1998. [AR 29-54], Plaintiff, who was represented by her attorney, James Shea, testified on her own…