Is a Vocational Expert Testifying at Your Social Security Disability Hearing? Here’s What You Need to Know
If you were denied Social Security Disability benefits and you are scheduled for a hearing before an administrative law judge, you may be surprised to hear that a third-party will be attending your hearing called a vocational expert. The truth of the matter is that a vocational expert has the power to impact the outcome of your Social Security Disability case, and, ultimately, whether the administrative law judge presiding over your case will grant you benefits. But what exactly is a vocational expert and what role do they play in a Social Security Disability administrative hearing? To help Michigan Social Security disability applicants better understand this important role in Social Security Disability administrative hearings, we provide that information here.
The Role of a Vocational Expert in a Social Security Disability Administrative Law Hearing
According to the Social Security Administration, a vocational expert (also called a “VE”) is “a vocational professional who provides impartial expert testimony at a hearing or in written response to interrogatories during the hearings process on claims under title ii and title XVI of the Social Security Act.” In sum, a vocational expert is a third-party that may provide testimony at a Social Security Disability applicant’s hearing as to what jobs may be available for them to work in light of their allegedly disabling impairments. The Social Security Administration sets forth when an administrative law judge may require vocational expert testimony in an administrative hearing to determine whether an applicant may be granted Social Security Disability benefits. According to Social Security administrative laws, “Before scheduling a hearing, the assigned administrative law judge (ALJ) will review a case to determine whether VE testimony is needed….”
Vocational Experts – Are They on My Side in My Social Security Disability Hearing?
Importantly, although the Social Security Administration regulations state that vocational experts are “impartial”, disabled applicants applying for Social Security Disability benefits need to know that they are not on their side, and, in fact, vocational expert testimony may harm their case. Vocational experts are not doctors, nor are they experts in the disabling conditions that a disabled Social Security Disability benefits applicant faces. In addition, the data that vocational experts use to determine whether jobs are available for a particular applicant may be extremely outdated. Therefore, in order to combat damaging and unrealistic vocational expert testimony at your hearing in Michigan, it is important to have an experienced Michigan social security disability lawyer on your side to represent you.
A Law Firm that Fights for Social Security Disability Applicants in Michigan
The experienced Michigan Social Security Disability lawyers at National Disability Law are here to help Social Security Disability benefits applicants get benefits due. They offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your case and to see if they can help you with your Social Security Disability benefits case. Contact the experienced lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law today and speak to a lawyer about your case for free.
