Disability Insurance Benefits

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Heather Tutwiler v. Kilolo Kijakazi

Case No.: 22-2808

Officials: Easterbrook, Hamilton, and Pryor, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Disability Insurance Benefits

This case involves a dispute over a claim for Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income under the Social Security Act, initiated by Heather Tutwiler, the plaintiff-appellant. The Seventh Circuit upheld the lower court’s decision, affirming that Tutwiler did not meet the definition of disability as outlined in the Social Security Act.

The court determined that since the onset of her condition, Tutwiler had not engaged in substantial gainful employment, and her impairments significantly restricted her ability to perform fundamental work activities. However, these impairments did not reach the severity required to meet or equal the criteria specified in the Social Security regulations, leading to automatic disability determinations. The court specifically pointed out that Tutwiler possessed residual functional capacity for sedentary work with certain additional restrictions.

Furthermore, the court found that there were jobs within Tutwiler’s capabilities available in the economy in sufficient numbers, leading to the conclusion that she did not qualify as disabled under the Social Security Act. The court held that the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) decision was supported by substantial evidence and did not conflict with the law in any manner.

Affirmed.

Decided 12/07/23

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