Andrew Bess v. Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Andrew Bess (Bess) appeals the district court’s 1 dismissal of his complaint seeking review of the Commissioner’s denial of disability insurance benefits (DIB) and supplemental security income (SSI). We affirm.

After an administrative law judge (AL J) concluded Bess was not entitled to DIB or SSI, the Appeals Council denied Bess’s request to review the AL J decision, and on December 13, 1999, sent notice of the Council’s decision to both Bess, at his last known address, and his attorney. Although his attorney received notice of the Appeals Council decision on December 17, 1999, Bess did not…