Time To File EAJA In Sentence Six Remands

This may seem impenetrable to most readers, but it is actually a fairly hot issue for attorneys who do much Social Security work in federal court. From the published opinion of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Van v. Barnhart, issued on February 26, 2007:

In this case, we consider whether in order to be deemed timely under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(B), a Social Security disability claimant who, following a remand under sentence six of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), obtains a favorable determination from the agency and enforces it in the district court by a judgment to which the government consents must file an application for attorneys’ fees under EAJA within 30 days after the entry of judgment, or, whether he may file within 30 days following expiration of the 60-day appeal period provided for by Rule 4(a)(1)(B). We hold that such a claimant, like other successful sentence-six remand claimants, may file within 30 days after the 60-day appeal period in Rule 4(a) has expired. Thus, we reverse the district court and remand with instructions to consider Van’s fee application on the merits.