ORDER for ATTORNEY'S FEES

CLIFFORD J. PROUD, Magistrate Judge.

This matter is before the Court on plaintiff's Application for Attorney's Fees Under the Equal Access to Justice Act. (Doc. 26). Defendant has not filed a response, and the time for doing so has now expired.

Pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 U.S.C. §2412(d)(1)(A), the Court shall award attorney's fees and expenses to a prevailing party in a civil action against the United States, including proceedings for judicial review of agency action, unless the government's position was substantially justified. The hourly rate for attorney's fees is not to exceed $125.00 per hour "unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceedings involved, justifies a higher fee." §2412(d)(2)(A).

This case was remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §405(g). Plaintiff is, therefore, the prevailing party. See, Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 302 (1993).

Counsel seeks a total fee of $4,669.00. Relying on the Consumer Price Index, counsel seeks to be paid at an hourly rate of $185.00. He has also submitted evidence indicating that $185.00 per hour is in line with the prevailing rate in the community for similar services. The Court finds that counsel has made a sufficient showing that he is entitled to an hourly rate of $185.00. See, Sprinkle v. Colvin, 777 F.3d 421 (7th Cir. 2015).

The Commissioner has not argued that her position was substantially justified so as to defeat plaintiff's claim under the EAJA, or challenged the appropriateness of the hourly rate and the number of hours claimed.

The Court deems the failure to respond to plaintiff's Application to be an admission of the merits thereof. SDIL-LR 7.1. Accordingly, the Court finds that plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney's fees and costs pursuant to the EAJA, and that the hourly rate and number of hours claimed are reasonable.

Plaintiff's Application for Attorney's Fees (Doc. 29) is hereby GRANTED. The Court awards plaintiff a total of $4,699.00 as attorney's fees and $400.00 (the amount of the filing fee) as costs.

The amount awarded is payable to plaintiff and is subject to set-off for any debt owed by plaintiff to the United States, per Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S.Ct. 2521 (2010). However, any part of the award that is not subject to set-off to pay plaintiff's pre-existing debt to the United States shall be made payable to plaintiff's attorney pursuant to the EAJA assignment previously executed by plaintiff and his attorney.

IT IS SO ORDERED.