Fierro v. The City of New York, Department of Education

**Social Security Disability Case Sent Back for New Review** This case involved Maria Fierro, who applied for Social Security disability benefits but was denied by the Social Security Administration. Fierro disagreed with the decision and challenged it in federal court, arguing that the government made mistakes when reviewing her medical condition and ability to work. The court agreed with Fierro and found that the Social Security Administration made significant errors. Specifically, the court determined that officials improperly evaluated medical opinions from her doctors and incorrectly assessed her "residual functional capacity" – essentially, what work activities she could still perform despite her medical limitations. Because of these mistakes, the court reversed the denial and sent the case back to an Administrative Law Judge for a fresh review. **What this means for workers:** This ruling shows that workers have the right to challenge Social Security disability denials in federal court when the government makes procedural errors. If you're denied disability benefits, the decision isn't necessarily final. Courts will carefully review whether Social Security officials properly considered all medical evidence and correctly evaluated your ability to work. Workers should know they can appeal unfavorable decisions, especially when medical evidence wasn't properly reviewed.