Most disability applicants prepare to talk about medical history — but very few know a vocational expert (VE) may decide their fate.
In SSDI hearings, the VE testifies about:
- Jobs you can or cannot perform
- Whether your skills transfer to other work
- Job numbers in the national economy
And here’s the secret: VE testimony can deny your benefits unless challenged.
✅ VEs Don’t Represent You — They Advise the Judge
Vocational experts are not neutral in practice — they provide hypothetical answers to the judge, not medical assessments.
The judge may ask:
“Assume an individual who can sit 6 hours and lift up to 10 pounds…”
If the VE says jobs exist, your claim may be denied.
But if your true limitations differ — your attorney must correct the record.
✅ Why VE Testimony Is Often Flawed
Common issues:
- Outdated job lists (DOT books from the 1990s!)
- Inflated national job numbers
- Jobs that don’t exist in the modern economy
- Misunderstood functional restrictions
Without legal challenge, incorrect VE statements go unchallenged.
✅ How Attorneys Challenge VEs
We cross-examine by asking:
- Are the job numbers scientifically supported?
- Can someone who must lie down during the day work?
- Would off-task time >10% eliminate employment?
- Are these jobs real in today’s market?
Strategic questioning often turns a denial into a favorable ruling.
✅ What Do You Need to Know
You don’t need to debate the VE – your attorney does.
Your role is to provide clear testimony about your limitations so we can confront unrealistic job assumptions.
Don’t face a vocational expert alone.
📞 Schedule a free disability hearing strategy session.
