Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security v. Cleveland B. Walton (535 U.S. 212)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided March 27, 2002 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 535 U.S. 212 · 122 S. Ct. 1265
- Decided
- March 27, 2002
- Term
- October Term 2001
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Breyer
- Issue area
- Civil Rights
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Justice Breyer delivered the opinion of the Court. The Social Security Act authorizes payment of disability insurance benefits and Supplemental Security Income to individuals with disabilities. See 49 Stat. 622, as amended, 42 U. S. C. §401 et seq. (1994 ed. and Supp. V) (Title II disability insurance benefits); §1381 et seq. (Title XVI supplemental security income). For both types of benefits the Act defines the key term “disability” as an “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” § 423(d)(1)(A) (1994 ed.) (Title II) (emphasis added); accord, § 1382c(a)(3)(A) (1994 ed., Supp. V) (Title XVI). This case presents two questions about the Social Security Administration’s interpretation of this definition. First, the Social Security Administration (which we shall call the Agency) reads the term “inability” as including a “12 month” requirement. In its view, the “inability” (to engage in any substantial gainful activity) must last, or must be expected to last, for at least 12 months. Second, the Agency reads the term “expected to last” as applicable only when the “inability” has not yet lasted 12 months. In the case of a later Agency determination — where the…
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