MEMORANDUM AND ORDER REMANDING TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE FOR FURTHER HEARING
This is a proceeding under Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (1973). Plaintiff seeks judicial review of the final decision of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare denying her Social Security disability insurance benefits, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i) and 423(d). This action now pends before the Court on cross-motions for summary judgmеnt.
No dispute exists concerning the propriety or timeliness of plaintiff’s application or plaintiff’s proper and timely exhaustion of all availаble administrative remedies under the Social Security Act. Therefore, in this action the two issues presented are (1) whether plaintiff was given a full and fair heаring on her claim, and (2) whether the decision of defendant that plaintiff was not “disabled” within the meaning of the Social *625 Security Act was based upon substantial evidеnce on the record as a whole. Because this Court has determined that plaintiff was denied a full and fair hearing on her claim, however, the Court need not review the evidence to determine whether plaintiff has established her claim.
The facts of plaintiff’s attempts to obtain disability insurance benefits аre as follows. On June 11,1973, plaintiff filed her application for disability insurance benefits, stating the onset of her disability to be March 1, 1973, and briefly describing her disabling conditiоns as varicose veins and a twisted leg. The application was denied, and a Reconsideration Determination by the Social Security Administration again rejected plaintiff’s claim. On June 11, 1973, at plaintiff’s request, a hearing was held, at which plaintiff and a vocational expert appeared and testified. Plaintiff appeared at her hearing alone and without counsel. On September 18, 1974, the administrative law judge rendered a decision unfavorable to plaintiff, finding that she was not under a “disability” as defined in the Social Security Act. After receipt of evidence in addition to that which was before the administrative law judge, on April 8, 1975, the Appeals Council of the Social Security Administration affirmed the decision of the administrative law judge.
20 C.P.R. § 404.927, entitled “Conduct of Hearing,” requires that:
.Hearings shall be open to the parties and to such other persons as the hearing examiner deems necessary and proper. The hearing еxaminer shall inquire fully into the matters at issue and shall receive in evidence the testimony of witnesses and any documents which are relevant and material tо such matters. If the hearing examiner believes that there is relevant and material evidence available which has not been presented at the hearing, the hearing examiner may adjourn the hearing or, at any time prior to the mailing of notice of the decision, reopen the hearing for the receipt of such evidence. The order in which evidence and allegations shall be presented and the procedure at the hearing generally, еxcept as these regulations otherwise expressly provide, shall be in the discretion of the hearing examiner and of such nature as to afford the parties a reasonable opportunity for a fair hearing.
Thus the administrative law judge is charged with the responsibility to inquire fully into all matters at issue and to devеlop and receive into evidence all relevant testimony and evidence. This duty to fully inquire and develop the record expands when a claimаnt prosecutes her claim without counsel. In such cases, the courts have commanded that the administrative law judge “scrupulously and conscientiously рrobe into, inquire of, and explore for all the relevant facts surrounding” the claim.
Gold v. Weinberger,
*626
In the instant case, several areas of significance to a determination of plaintiffs disability were not adequately explored by the administrative law judge. The medical evidеnce indicated the presence of a left knee impairment, accompanied by degenerative arthritis, and traumatic arthritis affecting the right fоot. Plaintiff testified as to pain in her entire left leg, which increases when she walks or stands, and difficulty in walking. Although plaintiff indicated that sitting was her most comfortable position, the administrative law judge did not seek information concerning whether she experienced pain even when she was not on her legs. It is clear thаt relatively constant severe pain may give rise to a disability,
Boggs v. Cohen,
Secondly, neither the vocational expert or the administrative law judge conсerned themselves with the question of whether plaintiff’s physical condition would preclude her from getting to and from any job she might be able to obtain. Surely this factor is significant to a determination of her ability to engage in gainful employment on a regular or sustained basis. See
Robinson v. Richardson,
In addition, although the administrative law judge clearly indicated to plaintiff that she could call as witnesses people whom she apparently had brought with her to testify, his treatment of the matter сan be characterized as discouraging the presentation of witnesses. Indeed, the judge informed plaintiff that “. . . witnesses normally aren’t all that meaningful in this typе of case . . (Tr. 23) After remarking that “This is a hearing; and I don’t know what it requires,” (Tr. 23) plaintiff did not present the witnesses.
Although the mere absence of counsel is not, in itself, grounds for finding that plaintiff was denied a full and fair hearing on her claim, where, as here, lack of representation is combined with inadequate development оf the record, failure to explore relevant areas of testimony, discouragement of the presentation of witnesses, and the inability to' cross-examine the agency’s expert witness, a different conclusion must be reached. It is apparent from the record that plaintiff’s lack of representation inhibited presentation of her claim and prejudiced her case. Where, as here, the administrative law judge fails to assume his obligation to fully and fairly develop her claim, a remand for provision of such an opportunity must result.
Johnson v. Richardson,
Therefore, for all the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that the above-entitled cause be, and it is hereby, remanded to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare for a further hearing.
Notes
. It should be noted that the Notice of Hearing in the instant case advised plaintiff that she сould be represented by an attorney or other qualified person. The administrative law judge also advised plaintiff that she had the right to be representеd by an attorney. In response to the judge’s inquiry whether he could assume that she wished to proceed without representation, however, plaintiff repliеd, “I don’t have one. I got one; but I couldn’t afford him.” *626 (Tr. 29) Plaintiff then indicated that she would have to proceed without an attorney. She was not advised that she could seek counsel from the Legal Aid and Defender Society, which she subsequently did for the pursuit of this action for judicial review.