Your Ocala Social Security Disability Attorney Explains Vocational Expert Testimony

The judge may ask a vocational expert, or VE, to appear at your disability hearing. Your Ocala Social Security disability attorney will have the opportunity to cross examine the VE regarding the statements made during his testimony.

The Role of a Vocational Expert

Vocational experts are typically employed in positions in which they encourage employers to hire individuals despite their impairments. Thus, their role as a VE may be at odds with what they do on a day-to-day basis. Despite this fundamental difference, VEs are asked only to provide information about work that exists in the national economy. A VE’s opinion about accommodations that would have to be made for a claimant to work at a particular opinion are irrelevant. Unfortunately, the Dictionary of Occupational Titles used by SSA for these types of determinations is outdated and most VEs do not regularly investigate the number of jobs available in the economy, so the claimant may be left at a disadvantage.

Cross-Examination

Your attorney will need to be well-versed in disability, medical and vocational issues to effectively cross-examine a VE witness. Your attorney will aim to elicit the basis on which the VE relied for his opinions. An experienced and knowledgeable Ocala Social Security disability lawyer is essential to successful cross-examination. An attorney from CJ Henry Law Firm, PLLC can help. Call their offices today at 352.304.5300 for more information.