Hughes v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Filing 10

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: The court finds that the Commissioner has provided valid, undisputed reasons why a sentence four remand is appropriate. Accordingly, the court GRANTS the Commissioner's motion. (Doc. 9 ). Signed by Judge Annemarie Carney Axon on 3/5/2025. (CLC)

FILED
2025 Mar-05 PM 12:13
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
NATALIE HUGHES,
Plaintiff,
v.
SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION,
COMMISSIONER,
Defendant.

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Case No.: 2:24-cv-1454-ACA

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Defendant Commissioner of the Social Security Administration moves for
entry of judgment under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) with reversal and
remand of the case for additional administrative proceedings. (Doc. 9). The
Commissioner seeks remand to instruct the agency to: (1) provide Plaintiff
Natalie Hughes with the opportunity for a supplemental hearing, and (2) issue a new
decision. (Id. at 1).
Under sentence four, the court has the “power to enter, upon the pleadings and
transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision
of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a
rehearing.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The court finds that the Commissioner has provided

valid, undisputed reasons why a sentence four remand is appropriate. Accordingly,
the court GRANTS the Commissioner’s motion. (Doc. 9).
The court will enter a separate final judgment reversing the Commissioner’s
final decision and remanding the action to the Commissioner for further
proceedings consistent with this order pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C.
§ 405(g). See Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 297 (1993) (“Immediate entry of
judgment (as opposed to entry of judgment after postremand agency proceedings
have been completed and their results filed with the court) is in fact the principal
feature that distinguishes a sentence-four remand from a sentence-six remand.”).
DONE and ORDERED this March 5, 2025.

_________________________________
ANNEMARIE CARNEY AXON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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