ORDER

BRUCE H. HENDRICKS, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court upon Plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act ("EAJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. In her motion, Plaintiff seeks attorney's fees in the amount of $6,235.37, representing 33.25 attorney hours at the hourly rate of $187.53. On November 20, 2017, Defendant filed a stipulation for an EAJA award, notifying the Court that the parties have agreed to an award of $5,500.00 in attorney's fees as compensation for all legal services rendered by counsel on behalf of Plaintiff.

Attorney's fees may be awarded pursuant to EAJA where the government's position is not substantially justified. The substantial justification test is one of reasonableness in law and fact. See Pierce v. Underwood, 487 U.S. 552, 565 (1988). The district court has broad discretion to set the attorney fee amount. "[A] district court will always retain substantial discretion in fixing the amount of an EAJA award. Exorbitant, unfounded, or procedurally defective fee applications . . . are matters that the district court can recognize." Hyatt v. North Carolina Dep't of Human Res., 315 F.3d 239, 254 (4th Cir. 2002) (citing Comm'r v. Jean, 496 U.S. 154, 163 (1990)). Moreover, the court should not only consider the "position taken by the United States in the civil action," but also the "action or failure to act by the agency upon which the civil action is based." 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(2)(D), as amended by P.L. 99-80, § 2(c)(2)(B).

After consideration, it is hereby

ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion (ECF No. 27) is granted insofar as the Court adopts the parties' stipulation and awards Plaintiff $5,500.00 in attorney's fees pursuant to EAJA, made payable to Plaintiff Debra Anne Eklund and delivered to the business address of Plaintiff's counsel.1

IT IS SO ORDERED.