Cssa

MEMORANDUM

Plaintiff-Appellant Neil Williams (“Williams”) appeals the district court’s judgment upholding the Social Security Administration’s denial of Williams’ application for social security disability benefits. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405 (g) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

We review de novo a district court’s judgment upholding the Commissioner’s denial of social security benefits. See Vernoff v. Astrue, 568 F.3d 1102, 1105 (9th Cir.2009); Bayliss v. Barnhart, 427 F.3d 1211 , 1214 n. 1 (9th Cir.2005). We must “independently determine whether the Commissioner’s decision (1) is free of legal error and (2) is supported by substantial evidence.” Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1279 (9th Cir.1996). We will affirm the district court’s order if the Commissioner’s decision was supported by “substantial evidence and a correct application of the applicable law.” Valentine v. Comm’r Soc. Sec. Admin., 574 F.3d 685, 690 (9th Cir.2009) (internal citation omitted).

First, Williams argues that the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) improperly rejected his brother’s testimony because the ALJ ignored some of his brother’s statements and because the ALJ…