October Term 2001 · Docket 00-1937
Does a five-month waiting period apply to disability benefits?
Cleveland Walton argues the law requires a five-month wait. The government says the statute does not mandate this delay.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Jeffrey Lamken argued the program targets long-term disabilities.
Lamken stated the law forces premature retirement due to severe impairment.
Lamken emphasized the SSI program lacks a five-month waiting period.
Lamken argued the five-month waiting period is a distinct statutory element.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the interpretation of Social Security statutes. One side claims the text mandates a five-month waiting period. The other side argues the plain language does not require this delay. The Court must determine which statutory interpretation is correct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 16, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-1
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to reject the five-month waiting period requirement.
Cleveland Walton wants the Court to enforce the five-month waiting period requirement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
What each side says
The government argues the statute's plain language does not mandate a five-month wait.
Cleveland Walton argues the statute's plain language requires a five-month waiting period.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked the side that brought the case to address the five-month waiting period.
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked the side that brought the case to clarify the statutory language.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-1
Why it matters
This case defines the timing of disability benefit eligibility. It determines when workers receive financial support after severe impairment. The outcome shapes the administration of the Social Security program.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-1
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-47
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.