In Wright-Hines v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., No. 08-5830, the Sixth Circuit faced a challenge to the ALJ's denial of claimant's supplemental security income and disability benefits.
The ALJ used the five-step disability analysis provided by the social security regulations to determine that: 1) claimant had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since December 31, 2002; 2) claimant suffered from several severe impairments; 3) claimant did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met listed regulatory criteria; and 4) claimant's residual functional capacity allowed her to perform past relevant work as a cashier. In concluding that claimant was capable of working as a cashier, the ALJ did not conduct step five of the analysis.
In upholding the ALJ's decision, the court found that the ALJ did not utilize an incorrect legal standard and that substantial evidence supported the conclusions.
