Record failed to support ALJ’s denial of claimant’s application for SSI benefits on ground that she was intellectually disabled from full-time gainful employment. Record showed that claimant had 75 IQ score, which was within relevant intellectual disability range, that claimant finished high school at 4th and 5th grade levels and needed help with bathing, dressing and taking medications while living with her mother. Moreover, one psychologist testified that claimant had significant learning disability and had markedly diminished working memory. Fact that another psychologist concluded that plaintiff could carry out simple tasks did not provide meaningful support for instant denial, where said psychologist, who did not interview claimant, did not explain basis for said opinion. Also, fact that claimant could play video games did not support ALJ’s conjecture that claimant, who had never held job, could learn new job-related tasks, and vocational expert failed to explain source of her opinion that claimant could work as cleaner or factory worker.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Social Security