(SS) Blanco v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. Introduction

13 Plaintiff Betsy Amy Blanco seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner 14 of Social Security (“Commissioner” or “Defendant”) denying her application for supplemental 15 security income pursuant to Title XVI of the Social Security Act. The matter is before the 16 undersigned for issuance of Findings and Recommendations based on the parties’ briefs. Docs. 17 24, 25. After reviewing the record the undersigned finds that substantial evidence and applicable 18 law do not support the ALJ’s decision that Plaintiff was not disabled. Accordingly, the undersigned 19 recommends that the Court direct entry of judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant 20 Commissioner of Social Security.

II. Factual and Procedural Background2

22 On April 23, 2018 Plaintiff applied for supplemental security income. The Commissioner 23 denied the application initially on September 13, 2018 and on reconsideration on December 4, 24 2018. A hearing was held before an Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”) on June 23, 2020. AR 25 52–85. On July 24, 2020 the ALJ issued an unfavorable decision. AR 12–38. The Appeals Council 26 1 The parties did not…