Hames v. Commissioner of Social Security

On March 3, 2025, the U.S. District Court issued a decision in Hames v. Commissioner of Social Security. The plaintiff, Kimberly Hames, appealed the final decision of the Commissioner denying her application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Hames alleged disability due to multiple impairments, including severe musculoskeletal disorders and mental health conditions. An Administrative Law Judge had found that Hames retained the residual functional capacity to perform a significant number of jobs in the national economy. The district court reviewed the administrative record to determine whether the ALJ's decision was supported by substantial evidence and applied the correct legal standards.

The district court affirmed the Commissioner's decision, finding that the ALJ's determination was supported by substantial evidence and free of legal error.

Whether the Administrative Law Judge properly evaluated the medical opinion evidence and whether the residual functional capacity assessment was supported by substantial evidence.

The case reinforces the high bar for judicial reversal of SSA disability determinations, emphasizing deference to ALJ credibility findings and the importance of detailed vocational evidence in disability adjudication.