Citations:

Acquiescence Ruling (AR) 98Acquiescence Ruling (AR) 98-3(6), Dennard v.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, 907 F.2d 598 (6th Cir. 1990) --

Effect of a Prior Finding of the Demands of Past Work on Adjudication of a

Subsequent Disability Claim Arising Under the Same Title of the Social

Security Act—Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.

BASIC (08-00)

A. Introduction

This subchapter provides case processing instructions to be applied in implementing AR 98-3(6) acquiescing in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Dennard v. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

B. Background

AR 98-3(6) was published on June 1, 1998 to explain how the decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Dennard will be applied within the circuit. The court in Dennard concluded that where the final decision of SSA after a hearing on a prior disability claim contains a finding of the demands of a claimant's past relevant work, SSA may not make a different finding in adjudicating a subsequent disability claim with an unadjudicated period arising under the same title of the Act as the prior claim unless new and additional evidence or changed circumstances provide a basis for a different finding.

C. Policy — text of ruling

AR-98-3 (6)

Issue:

Whether, in making a disability determination or decision on a subsequent disability claim with respect to an unadjudicated period, where the claim arises under the same title of the Social Security Act (the Act) as a prior claim on which there has been a final decision by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) or the Appeals Council, the Social Security Administration (SSA)¹ must adopt a finding of the demands of a claimant's past relevant work, made in the final decision by the ALJ or the Appeals Council on the prior disability claim.²

Statute/Regulation/Ruling Citation:

Sections 205(a) and (h) and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(a) and (h) and 902(a)(5)), 20 CFR 404.900, 404.957(c)(1), 416.1400, 416.1457(c)(1).

Circuit:

Sixth (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee)

Dennard v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 907 F.2d 598 (6th Cir. 1990).

Applicability of Ruling:

This Ruling applies to determinations or decisions at all administrative levels (i.e., initial, reconsideration, ALJ hearing and Appeals Council).

Description of Case:

Donald Dennard filed an application for Social Security disability insurance benefits in 1981, claiming a disability, which began on July 7, 1981. The application was denied initially and upon reconsideration. After a hearing held on September 28, 1982, an ALJ decided that Mr. Dennard was capable of performing sedentary work, that he had transferable skills, and that he was not disabled. This decision became the final decision of SSA and was affirmed by the district court.

Mr. Dennard filed a subsequent application on March 25, 1985, alleging an onset of disability of September 29, 1982. This application was also denied initially and upon reconsideration. At a hearing a vocational expert testified that Mr. Dennard's past relevant work as a resident care aide supervisor was light and semi-skilled, which provided him with skills transferable to other jobs in the supervisory field. The ALJ found that, despite his impairments, Mr. Dennard could "perform the requirements of work except for prolonged standing or walking, manipulation of more than 10 pounds, heavy or extensive bending, or prolonged sitting that would not allow him an opportunity to stand occasionally to alleviate perceptions of discomfort....” While the ALJ determined that the claimant was unable to perform his past relevant work, he did determine that Mr. Dennard could perform sedentary work and, thereupon, found that he was not disabled. The Appeals Council denied review, and the claimant then appealed to district court. The case was remanded for a new hearing to obtain and develop the medical evidence and to obtain additional vocational testimony.

In a subsequent decision issued on April 6, 1988, an ALJ found that Mr. Dennard was not prevented from performing his past relevant work and, therefore, was not disabled. A vocational expert had testified that, based on the claimant's testimony at the prior hearing, his past work as a resident care aide supervisor was semi-skilled and heavy to very heavy in terms of exertional level. However, the vocational expert further testified that, based on the job description provided by Mr. Dennard with his application for benefits, the job was semi-skilled and was sedentary to light in nature, because there was no direct patient contact.

The Appeals Council denied the claimant's request for review. Upon appeal to the district court, a United States Magistrate recommended that Mr. Dennard be found disabled, because he believed that the claimant's testimony that his former job was heavy in exertion was controlling. The district court did not adopt the magistrate's recommendation. Instead it found that SSA's decision denying benefits was supported by substantial evidence. From that adverse decision, the claimant appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Holding:

On appeal Mr. Dennard argued that because SSA had determined in its final decision on his first application for benefits that he could not perform his past relevant work, SSA was precluded by estoppel from reconsidering the issue and finding that Dennard could perform this work. The Sixth Circuit observed that it seemed clear that SSA had reconsidered the nature and extent of Mr. Dennard exertional level in his former job as a resident care aide supervisor. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit stated: "We are persuaded that under the circumstances, we must remand this case to [SSA] . . . to determine whether [Mr.] Dennard is disabled in light of the prior determination that he could not return to his previous employment."

Statement as to How Dennard Differs From SSA Policy

Under SSA policy, if a determination or decision on a disability claim has become final, the Agency may apply administrative res judicata with respect to a subsequent disability claim under the same title of the Act if the same parties, facts and issues are involved in both the prior and subsequent claims. However, if the subsequent claim involves deciding whether the claimant is disabled during a period that was not adjudicated in the final determination or decision on the prior claim, SSA considers the issue of disability with respect to the unadjudicated period to be a new issue that prevents the application of administrative res judicata. Thus, when adjudicating a subsequent disability claim involving an unadjudicated period, SSA considers the facts and issues de novo in determining disability with respect to the unadjudicated period.

The Sixth Circuit held that, where the final decision of SSA after a hearing on a prior disability claim contains a finding of the demands of a claimant's past relevant work, SSA may not make a different finding in adjudicating a subsequent disability claim with an unadjudicated period arising under the same title of the Act as the prior claim unless new and additional evidence or changed circumstances provide a basis for a different finding.

Explanation of How SSA Will Apply The Dennard Decision Within The Circuit

This Ruling applies only to disability findings in cases involving claimants who reside in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, or Tennessee at the time of the determination or decision on the subsequent claim at the initial, reconsideration, ALJ hearing or Appeals Council level. It applies to a finding of the demands of a claimant's past relevant work, under 20 CFR 404.1520(e) or 416.920(e), which was made in a final decision by an ALJ or the Appeals Council on a prior disability claim. In addition, because a finding of a claimant's date of birth (for purposes of ascertaining a claimant's age), education or work experience, also involves a finding of fact, relating to a claimant's vocational background, which would not ordinarily be expected to change, this Ruling also shall apply to a finding of a claimant's date of birth, education or work experience required under 20 CFR 404.1520(f)(1) or 416.920(f)(1).

When adjudicating a subsequent disability claim with an unadjudicated period arising under the same title of the Act as the prior claim, adjudicators must adopt such a finding from the final decision by an ALJ or the Appeals Council on the prior claim in determining whether the claimant is disabled with respect to the unadjudicated period unless there is new and material evidence relating to such a finding or there has been a change in the law, regulations or rulings affecting the finding or the method for arriving at the finding.

D. Policy - applying AR 98-3(6)

1. General

AR 98-3(6) requires adjudicators to apply the principles in DI 52706.001D.2. when:

• The adjudicator is deciding a subsequent disability claim with an unadjudicated period; and

• The subsequent claim arises under the same title of the Social Security Act as the prior disability claim on which there has been a final decision by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) or the Appeals Council (AC).

2. What the Dennard AR requires

When adjudicating the subsequent disability claim involving an unadjudicated period, the adjudicator must adopt certain findings, as discussed below, contained in the final decision by the ALJ or AC on the prior disability claim.

The requirement to adopt findings applies to a finding of the demands of a claimant's past relevant work under 20 CFR 404.1520(e) or 416.920(e). In addition, AR 98-3(6) provides that because a finding of a claimant's date of birth (for purposes of ascertaining a claimant's age), education or work experience also involves a finding of fact, relevant to a claimant's vocational background, which would not ordinarily be expected to change, the requirement to adopt findings under the Dennard AR will also apply to a finding of a claimant's date of birth, education or work experience required under 20 CFR 404.1520(f)(1) or 416.920(f)(1).

When adjudicating the subsequent disability claim, the adjudicator must adopt such a finding from the final decision by the ALJ or AC on the prior claim in determining whether the claimant is disabled with respect to the unadjudicated period unless there is new and material evidence relating to such a finding or there has been a change in the law, regulations or rulings affecting the finding or the method for arriving at the finding.

E. Reference

See DI 52705.001 for instructions for implementing AR 98-4(6) for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Drummond v. Commissioner of Social Security, which applies in adjudicating subsequent disability claims of individuals residing in the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio or Tennessee).

Footnotes:

[1]

Under the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994, Pub. L. No. 103-296, effective March 31, 1995, SSA became an independent Agency in the Executive Branch of the United States Government and was provided ultimate responsibility for administering the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs under titles II and XVI of the Act. Prior to March 31, 1995, the Secretary of Health and Human Services had such responsibility.

[2]

Although Dennard was a title II case, similar principles also apply to title XVI. Therefore, this Ruling extends to both title II and title XVI disability claims.