Stewart

Stewart v. Astrue

Good Law
319 F. App'x 649
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMarch 18, 2009No. 07-35877California455 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Lela Stewart (“Stewart”) filed for supplemental insurance income on December 18, 2002 and for disability benefits on January 18, 2003. The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found Stewart not disabled because she could return to her past relevant work as an office clerk. The district court affirmed. We affirm the district court’s decision because substantial evidence in the record supports the ALJ’s finding that Stewart is not disabled.

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 Social Sec., 528 F.3d 1194, 1198 (9th Cir.2008).

Stewart argues that the ALJ’s decision is not supported by substantial evidence based on two asserted errors. She first argues that the ALJ improperly relied on residual functional capacity opinions of Stewart’s doctors to determine the severity of Stewart’s impairments and Stewart’s residual functional capacity. Social Security Ruling (“SSR”)…

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