The Vocational Expert

Speak with a Charlotte Social Security disability lawyer about your upcoming ALJ hearing. Call Bridgman Law Offices at (704) 815-6055 for a consultation.

A government vocational expert may be called upon to testify if there is a vocational issue connected with your case. Your Charlotte Social Security disability lawyer may be able to have your own vocational expert provide a written opinion or testimony, but, in most cases, the expert is appointed by the administrative law judge.

The Role Of The Vocational Expert

The primary role of the testimony provided by the vocational expert is to provide sufficient proof to allow the SSA to deny benefits. It is important to note, however, that this might not be the ALJ’s motivation. If the ALJ has called on a vocational expert to testify, it might mean that the ALJ has looked at the hearing exhibits and has decided that you cannot do the work you did in the past. In addition, it might mean that the ALJ could not make a decision based only on the Medical-Vocational Guidelines.

According to the Medical-Vocational guidelines, there are varying degrees of disability. This means that a person who cannot perform a certain level of physical work might be able to find less-strenuous work that he or she is able to perform. In that case, a vocational expert may be asked to evaluate whether or not the claimant can reasonably be expected to find a new job that he or she could perform, considering the claimant’s work experience, age and education. If the vocational expert determines that, after considering those factors, there are not significant numbers of jobs in the national economy that the claimant could perform, the ALJ may decide to award disability benefits.

Legal Assistance For Your ALJ Hearing

Your Charlotte Social Security disability lawyer may be concerned if you receive a notice that a government vocational expert will be called to testify at your hearing. This might be due to the fact that vocational experts have a wide range of skills, expertise and understanding of their role.

You may want to speak with someone from a Charlotte Social Security disability law firmabout your upcoming ALJ hearing. Please call Bridgman Law Offices at (704) 815-6055 to schedule an appointment.