Angel Joy Ashby v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner Social Security Administration

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

ANGEL JOY ASHBY PLAINTIFF

v. CIVIL NO. 26-05033

FRANK BISIGNANO, Commissioner DEFENDANT Social Security Administration MEMORANDUM OPINION Plaintiff, Angel Joy Ashby, brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) seeking judicial review of a decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (Commissioner) denying her claim for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (hereinafter “the Act”), 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). (ECF No. 2). The Defendant filed the Social Security Transcript on April 6, 2026. (ECF No. 5).

On June 5, 2026, the Defendant filed an Unopposed Motion for Reversal and Remand requesting that Plaintiff's case be remanded pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g) in order to conduct further administrative proceedings. (ECF No. 8).

The exclusive methods by which a district court may remand a social security case to the Commissioner are set forth in "sentence four" and "sentence six" of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). A remand pursuant to "sentence six" is limited to two situations: where the Commissioner requests a remand before answering the complaint, or where the court orders the Commissioner to consider new, material, evidence that was not presented before the agency for good cause. The fourth sentence of the statute provides that "[t]he court shall have 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); Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 296 (1993). Here, the Court finds remand for the purpose of allowing the ALJ to further evaluate the evidence appropriate.

Based on the foregoing, the undersigned GRANTS the Commissioner's Unopposed Motion for Reversal and Remand (ECF No. 8) and remands this case to the Commissioner for further administrative action pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g).

DATED this 5th day of June 2026.

ii Areal Comnttrcds— HON. CHRISTY COMSTOCK UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE