Rodriguez

MEMORANDUM **

Maria Rodriguez appeals the district court’s summary judgment order affirming the decision of an administrative law judge (“ALJ”), who granted Rodriguez supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act as of November 1, 1998, but not before. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 .

We review de novo a district court’s summary judgment upholding a denial of benefits. Rollins v. Massanari, 261 F.3d 853, 855 (9th Cir.2001). We will uphold the ALJ’s decision “if it was supported by substantial evidence in the record and applied the correct legal standards.” Id. at 856 . If the evidence can reasonably support either confirming or reversing the Commissioner’s decision, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the ALJ. See Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098 (9th Cir.1999). We affirm.

Rodriguez suffers from kidney problems and osteoarthritis. The parties agree that Rodriguez is disabled under the Act because her condition meets a listed impairment describing “gross anatomical deformity ... and enlargement or effusion of the affected joints” (her hands). 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1, § 1.04 (1999). The parties…