ORDER
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff’s motion for an award of attorney fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA). See 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(B).
This civil action was filed on April 25, 1983, after defendant administratively denied plaintiff’s claims for Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemеntal Security Income Benefits. Plaintiff and defendant filed cross-motions for summary judgment which were referred to Magistrate Charles K. McCotter, Jr., for his recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B).
On October 18, 1984, Magistrate McCotter issued an Order remanding this matter to the Secretary for further proceedings consistent with the substance of his Order. Plaintiff filed objections to the Magistrate’s Order, contending that the findings and conclusions contained in the memorandum mandated reversal for payment of benefits and not simply remand. Upon review, the Court concluded that the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment should be granted and directed the defendant to award benefits to the plaintiff.
The EAJA permits an award of attorney fees to a qualified prevailing party, other than the United States, in civil actions brought by or against the United States “unless the Court finds that the position of the United States was substantially justified or that the special circumstances make *48 an award unjust.” 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A).
Plaintiff contends that the EAJA is applicable to Social Security proceedings despite the fee provisions in thе Social Security Act; that she was the prevailing party; that she qualified for this relief in terms of her financial need; and that such an award is appropriate in her case because defendant’s position was not substantially justified. After a review of the record, the Court concludes that plaintiff is entitled to attorney fees under the EAJA.
Plaintiff’s application for attorney fees under the EAJA is a request that her attorney fees be paid by the government. The attorney fee provisions of the EAJA apply to sеrvices rendered in court in Social Security cases.
Guthrie v. Schweiker,
Ordinarily the government’s position in the district court is substantially justified if the United States Attorney does no more than rely on an “arguably defensible record.”
Guthrie v. Schweiker,
The government has the burden of showing substantial justification for its position.
Alspach v. District Director of Internal Revenue,
The government’s position in this case was unreasonable and unjustified in at least three ways. Magistrate McCotter’s extensive memorandum found that the ALJ (1) failed to properly consider the opinion of plaintiff’s treating physician; (2) failed to properly evaluate plaintiff’s congestive heart failure in light of her other impairments, especially her hypertension; and (3) imprоperly applied the medical-vocational guidelines (grids).
In reviewing the magistrate’s order and directing the award of benefits, the Court concluded that “the evidence of plaintiff’s disability is overwhelming.” The Court now finds the government’s position was not substantially justified, as it was not based on an arguably defensible administrative record. Id. There are no “special circumstances” which would make an award of attorney fees unjust. 1 Accordingly, the Court concludes that an award of attorney fees under the EAJA is proper. The remaining issue before the Court is the amount of the award of attorney fees.
In cases involving award of attorney fees, the Fourth Circuit has held that the guidelines established in
Johnson v. Georgia Highway Express, Inc.,
The itemized time sheet which plaintiffs counsel has submitted shows a total of 44 hours of attorney time and seeks compensation at the rate of $75 per hour. Plaintiff seeks $200 in expenses for a medical-vocational expert witness who reviewed plaintiffs case. Plaintiff also seeks to multiply thе base attorney fee which may be awarded by the court by a factor of 25%, primarily because of preclusion of other employment and time limitations imposed by the client. While these factors alone do not justify an upward adjustment of a reаsonable base fee, they can be pertinent in determining whether the claimed rate and number of hours are reasonable. Blum v. Stenson, supra.
Based upon review of counsel’s affidavit, the Court concludes that counsel reasonably expended 44 hours in the cоnduct of this litigation. Based on a survey of hourly rates recently conducted by the North Carolina Bar Association and other awards under the EAJA, a reasonable rate of $75 per hour can be used. In the absence of other factors, this rate is the maximum allowable under the EAJA. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). Accordingly, the base amount is computed as follows: 44 hours times $75 equals $3,300.00. The Court will now review the remaining Johnson and Barber factors to determine if the base amount is reasonable.
1. The novelty and difficulty of the questions raised
This action involved neither novel nor difficult issues.
2. The skill required to properly perform the legal services rendered
Social Security litigation requires a certain degree оf specialized expertise and skill.
See Blankenship v. Schweiker,
3. The attorney’s opportunity costs in pressing the instant litigation
Plаintiff’s counsel is an attorney employed by East Central Community Legal Services, a federally-funded legal services program charged with providing civil legal services to over 93,000 low-income citizens in a five-county area. The legal services progrаm employs only eight attorneys. Because of its limited staff, the legal services agency is not able to represent all low-income persons who request the program’s services. Therefore, there has been some opportunity cost to рlaintiff’s counsel in this litigation.
4. The customary fee for like work. See supra
5. The attorney’s expectations at the outset of the litigation
Although the evidence of plaintiff’s disability is overwhelming, the plaintiff had lost twice at the administrative level. The expectation of success must have seemed questionable.
*50 6. The time limitation imposed by the client or circumstances
Although counsel suggests delay in other litigation occasioned by the time spent on this action, nothing in the record reflects severe time limitations resulting in pressured working conditions for counsel.
7. The amount in controversy and the results obtained
Counsel was completely successful in obtaining the relief requested, which results in a substantial award for the plaintiff. For a disabled individual with little or no income, the beneficial results of a favorable decision are obvious. The hours reasonably expended by plaintiffs counsel in pursuing all of her theories are properly includable in the basis for making the award. Hensley v. Eckerhart, supra.
8. The experience, reputation, and ability of the attorney
Plaintiffs counsel hаs over eleven years of experience as an attorney. His work in this case is very competent.
9. The undesirability of the case within the legal community in which the suit arose
Representation of clients in Social Security actions' is not undesirable within the legal community.
10. The nature and length of the professional relationship between attorney and client
This is not relevant to this case, thereby not requiring any adjustment.
11. Whether the fee is fixed or contingent
In a Social Security case, there are two means by which an attorney can reсover counsel fees for pursuit of court action. Under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1), counsel can recover as attorney fee no more-than 25% of the past-due benefits when the court renders judgment favorable to the claimant. Pursuant to the EAJA, counsel for a prevailing party may recover attorney fees unless the position of the United States was substantially justified or circumstances make an award unjust. The Court has considered this factor only in determining the reasonableness of the base fee, because this is not а case of “exceptional success.” Hensley v. Eckerhart, supra; Blum v. Stenson, supra.
12. Attorney fee awards in similar cases
In counsel fee awards under § 406, the total fee which may be awarded is 25% of the past-due benefits. 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1);
Guthrie v. Schweiker,
The EAJA and § 406(b)(1) differ in purpose. Section 406(b)(1) limits the amount of attorney fee from funds which otherwise would have gone to the claimant as benefits. The EAJA is a fee-shifting statute. If attorney fees are awarded undеr the EAJA, they are in addition to the amount of judgment and not in diminution of the claimant’s benefits.
Watkins v. Harris,
The question arises whether an EAJA award of counsel fees is limited by § 406 and thereby cannot exceed 25% of the past-due benefits. This Court concludes that as long as there is no duрlication of fee award, there is no provision in the EAJA that would limit counsel’s award to 25% of past-due benefits.
See Berman v. Schweiker,
Where the fees are allowed under the EAJA, plaintiff’s counsel still *51 would be entitled to an award under 42 U.S.C. § 406 allocable to his services during the administrative proceedings, because the EAJA does not award fеes for work at the administrative level in Social Security-cases. Guthrie v. Schweiker, supra. However, under § 406, the combined award for counsel fees for the administrative and court proceedings cannot exceed 25% of the past-due benefits. Morris v. Social Security Administration, supra. Within the same 25% limitation, counsеl may also be eligible for additional fees for court proceedings under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1) in the event the EAJA award does not exceed 25% of the past-due benefits. Any such additional fee award would come from the plaintiffs past-due benefits and could not duplicate the EAJA award. Guthrie v. Schweiker, supra.
The only limitation of fees under the EAJA is a $75-per-hour limitation in the absence of cost-of-living increase or special factors justifying a higher fee. 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(A)(ii). No such factor is present in this case, and no higher rate is warranted. The only other limitation would be the avoidance of duplication of fees. In such an instance, duplication can be avoided by requiring plaintiffs counsel receiving an award under the EAJA for work in court to reimburse the claimant up to the amount awarded under 42 U.S.C. § 406(b)(1) allocable to plaintiffs counsel’s services in court. Any EAJA award in excess of the § 406(b)(1) award could be properly retained by counsel as attorney fee. Guthrie v. Schweiker, supra.
Premised on awards in similar cases, the court finds the base amount previously calculated above to be reasonable and in line with awards in these cases.
See, Ocasio v. Schweiker,
Where the applicant has shown that the claimed rate and the number of hours are reasonable, the resulting product may be found to be reasonable.
Blum v. Stenson, supra.
However, this does not end the inquiry.
Hensley v. Eckerhart, supra,
— U.S. at-,
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that defendant pay to counsel for plaintiff the following sums:
Attorney Fees $3,300.00
Expenses 200.00
TOTAL: $3,500.00
Notes
. In
Hicks
v.
Heckler,
. Hensley and Blum interpret the attorney fee provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 1988.