MEMORANDUM ORDER

NORA BARRY FISCHER, District Judge.

On March 3, 2014, plaintiff Tiquisha S. Grier filed a complaint against the Commissioner of Social Security seeking judicial review of the denial of her application for Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits for a lack of disability. The case was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge for pretrial proceedings in accordance with the Magistrate Judges Act, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B), and Rules 72(C)(2) of the Local Rules for Magistrate Judges.

On September 2, 2014, the magistrate judge filed a Report and Recommendation, recommending that plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 8] be denied and the Defendant, the Commissioner of Social Security's motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 10] be granted. See Rep. and Rec. [ECF No. 15].

Service of the Report and Recommendation was made on the parties. The parties were informed that in accordance with the Magistrate Judges Act, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C), and the Local Rule of Court 72.D.2, they had fourteen (14) days to file any objections. On September 18, 2014, plaintiff timely filed objections. [ECF No. 16]. On September 24, 2014, defendant filed a timely response to plaintiff's objections. [ECF No. 17].

Specifically, plaintiff objects on the grounds that the magistrate judge failed to address the ALJ's failure to "properly evaluate Plaintiff's impairment of migraine headaches[,]" and "improperly ignored multiple GAF scores1 which were indicative of serious symptoms of Plaintiff's severe impairments." Pl.'s Obj. [ECF No. 16] at 10. As to her migraines, plaintiff argues that the ALJ's "determination of the severity of Plaintiff's migraine headaches was not supported by substantial medical evidence" and the ALJ "should have ordered a consultative physical examination to provide him with the evidence necessary to properly determine if this impairment was disabling." Id. at 14, 17. As for the GAF scores, plaintiff argues that the ALJ "cherry-picked" evidence by relying only on evidence that plaintiff "generally" has GAF scores of the high 50s to low 60s, and did not refer to Plaintiff's scores of 50 or below or that after October 2011 Plaintiff's GAF scores did not reach between Plaintiff's average range of 55-66. Id. at 20.

Relative to the standard of review in reviewing an administrative determination of the Commissioner, as discussed by the magistrate judge, "the question before any court is whether there is substantial evidence in the agency record to support the findings of the Commissioner that the plaintiff failed to sustain his/her burden of demonstrating that he/she was disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act." Rep. and Rec. [ECF No. 15] at 2.

42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

The term disability is defined as the "inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A)

In determining whether a claimant is disabled, the Commissioner applies a "five-step sequential evaluation." 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(1). The process is set forth as follows:

20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i)-(v). A claimant bears the burden of providing satisfactory evidence to show she is entitled to disability benefits. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1512(a), 416.912(a).

In the instant case, the ALJ determined that plaintiff's subjective complaints of migraine headaches did not meet the severity requirement under step two of the sequential evaluation process. A "severe impairment" is one "which significantly limits your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities" including the ability to perform physical functions such as walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying or handling. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1521, 416.920(c), 416.921.

While the record illustrates that plaintiff has a history of migraine headaches, plaintiff has failed to establish that they were severe or imposed any significant limitations on her ability to engage in basic work-related activities. For example, she went to school and obtained an Associate's Degree in Business Administration [Tr. 42], completed a two-year college program in December 2009, and an employee readiness program in March 2010 [Tr. 183-84], was involved in an internship/externship program [Tr. 294, 317], attended modeling school and worked as a model [Tr. 324, 331], worked as a paralegal, a paralegal office administrator and conducted legal research [Tr. 273, 401], took care of her two children while pregnant [Tr. 331], stated that she had no difficulty getting places she needed to go, drove, went out of the house to take care of household business, took her son to school five days a week, and shopped in stores, by phone or by computer for food, cleaning supplies and clothes, [Tr. 196, 198], she cited no problems with self-care [Tr. 196], watched television and read on an almost daily basis [Tr. 199], and spent most of her time looking for employment [Tr. 259]. In addition to these facts, the ALJ noted that plaintiff provided no evidence of treatment for migraine headaches, "mentioned it at the hearing only in passing and in response to questioning by counsel" and that "there is no evidence of treatment other than brief mention of it in treatment notes with her primary care physician.2 There has been no referral to a specialist, no mention of testing recommended or performed, and no medication associated with a diagnosis of migraines." [Tr. 26]. Based upon these facts, it was proper for the ALJ to find and subsequently the magistrate judge to affirm, that plaintiff's migraine headaches imposed no significant limitation upon her ability to engage in basic work-related activities and her migraine headaches are considered a non-severe impairment.

To the extent that plaintiff argues that the ALJ should have ordered a consultative physical examination to provide him with the evidence necessary to base his decision, this argument is likewise rejected. "The ALJ's only duty in this respect is to ensure that the claimant's complete medical history is developed on the record before finding that the claimant is not disabled." Money v. Barnhart, 91 F. App'x 210, 215 (3d Cir. 2004). It is only where "the evidence before the Commissioner is insufficient does the ALJ have the duty to attempt to obtain additional evidence to determine whether a claimant is disabled." Id. Here, the nature of treatment for her migraines is well-documented throughout the record in addition to the numerous and extensive activities that she performed during her period of disability. Accordingly, the ALJ was under no duty to further develop the record and plaintiff's objection is rejected.

Additionally, plaintiff's argument that the ALJ improperly ignored multiple GAF scores which were indicative of serious symptoms of Plaintiff's severe impairments is rejected. Primarily, a GAF score alone is not dispositive of whether a claimant is mentally disabled. Gilroy v. Astrue, 351 F. App'x 714, 716 (3d. Cir. 2009) (GAF scores do "not have a direct correlation to the severity requirements of the Social Security mental disorder listings"); Hillman v. Barnhart, 48 F. App'x 26, 29-30 (3d Cir. 2002) (a GAF score of 35 after claimant was admitted to alcohol detoxification facility which subsequently rose to 50 supported ALJ's conclusion that claimant's disability stemmed from alcohol and not mental impairment).

The ALJ noted that plaintiff's GAF scores has ranged from the high 50s to low 60s. [Tr. at 29]. Additionally, the ALJ determined:

[Tr. at 30]. The ALJ was warranted in his finding. The record is undisputed that plaintiff's low GAF scores were assessed by unacceptable medical sources, specifically a registered nurse and a non-medical therapist. [Tr. 245, 259, 262-64, 372, 374,]. Under the regulations, medical reports must be submitted by acceptable medical sources which include licensed physicians and licensed or certified psychologists. 40 C.F.R. § 404.1513(a)(1)-(2). The only acceptable medical source, a psychiatrist, assigned a GAF score of 55 in September 2011. Additionally, irrespective of plaintiff's GAF scores, the ALJ was warranted in finding that plaintiff's difficulties in any area of mental functioning were no more than mild to moderate based upon evidence of the State Agency medical consultant determinations. The record is replete with evidence showing that plaintiff performed numerous activities, outlined above, and generally functioned in a manner that is inconsistent with a finding that she was disabled.

Therefore, after a de novo review of the pleadings and documents in this case, together with the Report and Recommendation, and the pleadings thereto, the following Order is entered: AND NOW, this 9th day of October, 2014,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's Objections are OVERRULED; and

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 9] is DENIED and that Defendant's motion for summary judgment [ECF No. 12] is GRANTED and the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.

Magistrate Judge Mitchell's Report and Recommendation [ECF No. 15] dated September 2, 2014 is adopted as the Opinion of the Court.