How do Disability Hearings with an Administrative Law Judge and a Vocational Expert work exactly?

A vocational expert is asked to attend your hearing to give testimony on whether your work skills are transferrable to other jobs in the national economy.  The vocational expert will also testify as to whether there are such jobs in the area where you live.  Social Security usually requests vocational expert’s opinion in cases where a claimant is below a certain age.  The reasoning for this is that it is felt that the younger the worker, the more likely that worker can adapt to job changes or get additional training to make themselves employable despite their medical condition.  You do have the right to question the vocational expert at the hearing and argue against any conclusions about your case he may make.

If you have not already sought legal counsel, you should do so.  Dealing with the Vocational expert can be somewhat complicated, competent counsel will know how to question the expert and counter any evidence he or she may present.