FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

RYAN DELIS,

Plaintiff, ORDER

v. 20-cvB408-wmc

KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

On November 24, 2020, the court issued an order and judgment remanding this case to the commissioner for further proceedings under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. ' 405(g) pursuant to stipulation of the parties. Now before the court is plaintiff Ryan Delis’ attorney’s petition for fees pursuant to § 406(b)(1) in the amount of $5,421.40. (Dkt. #29.) Defendant does not object to this motion. (Dkt. #31.)

Fees under 42 U.S.C. ' 406 As part of its judgment, a court may allow “a reasonable fee . . . not in excess of 25 percent of the . . . past-due benefits” awarded to the claimant. § 406(b)(1)(A). The fee is payable “out of, and not in addition to, the amount of [the] past-due benefits.” Id. Counsel asks the court to approve an attorney fee award in the amount of $5,421.40, which represents the difference between the prior EAJA fee award and 25 percent of the Supplemental Security Income that was awarded to plaintiff in past-due benefits.1 Having

1 The court notes that this 25 percent fee award is $10,183.25; however, counsel was previously awarded EAJA fees in the amount of $4,761.85. (Dkt. #28.) from plaintiff or defendant, the court will grant the motion. The fees requested by counsel

are reasonable in light of the time he and members of his firm spent on this case and the favorable result he obtained for plaintiff while working on a contingency basis. Of course, counsel is not allowed to recover both awards. Section 406(b) has been harmonized with the EAJA; though fee awards may be made under both the EAJA and § 406(b), a claimant's attorney must refund to the claimant the amount of the smaller fee. Gisbrecht v. Barnhart,

(2002) (explaining that “an EAJA award offsets

an award under Section 406(b)”).

ORDER IT IS ORDERED that counsel’s motion for attorney fees under

(b)(1) in the amount of $5,421.40 (dkt. #29) is GRANTED. Entered this 23rd day of May, 2022.

BY THE COURT:

/s/ __________________________________ WILLIAM M. CONLEY District Judge