Irma Salinas v. Kilolo Kijakazi

INTRODUCTION

Irma S. (“Plaintiff”) filed an application for Supplemental Security Income and Disability Insurance Benefits in February 2016, alleging disability beginning January 6, 2015. See Dkt. 16, Administrative Record (“AR”) 228, 234.1 After being denied by initial determination, Plaintiff received two hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) in July and October 2018. See AR 34-72.

1 The Court partially redacts Plaintiff’s name in compliance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c)(2)(B) and the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Additionally, all citations to the AR are to the record pagination. All other docket citations are to the CM/ECF pagination. The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on January 10, 2019. See AR 13-33. The ALJ followed the five-step sequential evaluation process for determining whether an individual is disabled. At step one, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since the alleged onset date. See AR 22. At step two, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff had the severe impairments of lumbar spine degenerative disc…