Carl Watkins v. Michael Astrue

MEMORANDUM

Carl Watkins filed for disability benefits on December 18, 2003. He claims disability as of January 2, 2003, due to leg and lower back pain. The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found Watkins not disabled because there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that Watkins can perform. The magistrate judge affirmed. We affirm the magistrate judge’s decision because substantial evidence in the record supports the ALJ’s finding.

This court reviews a district court’s decision upholding the denial of social security benefits de novo. Stubbs-Danielson v. Astrue, 539 F.3d 1169, 1172 (9th Cir.2008). “The Social Security Administration’s disability determination should be upheld unless it is based on legal error or is not supported by substantial evidence.” Ryan v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir.2008).

Disability insurance benefits are available under Title II of the Social Security Act when an eligible claimant is unable “to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment ... which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12…