Vocational Expert Witness in California

Some things in life are complex, and one of those things is the process of successfully applying for Social Security benefits. There are many rules and regulations that you have to follow to a T to file a successful claim.

To make matters worse, even if you do everything properly, you might eventually end up in court. This can be scary, especially if you’re going at it alone without any legal counsel or hiring an expert. 

To get the benefits you deserve, you might need to sign up for a lawyer’s services. More importantly, to increase the chances of a successful claim, you should be familiar with the services of a vocational expert witness California. 

For all of you Cali citizens who have a disability or a medical condition that’s interfering with your work and day-to-day life, you are probably wondering how vocational expert witness California fits into the picture and how they might be able to help you.

In the next few minutes, we’ll explore the entire process of filing a claim, the role of expert witnesses in your appeals process, and how you can get the most out of it.

The Appeals Process

There are two benefits programs available: 

1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Both programs are managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Despite that fact, the eligibility requirements for both programs are very different.

While it might seem redundant, the SSA denies most first-time applicants. Thus, the majority of claimants have to submit a request for consideration. If it gets rejected, there are more options available. 

You can request a Social Security disability hearing. This is where a vocational expert witness California usually enters the scene. In short, they help the administrative law judge decide the outcome of your claim.

Vocational Experts Demystified

Vocational expert witness California is someone the SSA calls in to testify at your disability hearing. These experts must have in-depth knowledge regarding the skills workers need to perform as well as a deep understanding of job availability in the current job market.

Their testimony is crucial because it helps the judge gain a better understanding of the types of jobs you are capable of performing with the limitations of your condition. 

Needless to say, the opinion of the vocational expert witness California has a huge impact on the outcome of your case because they are highly qualified in providing evidence of the extent of your disability.

When talking about these experts, the SSA has a lot of requirements they have to meet before they’re called on to the stand. For starters, they need to have college degrees and must demonstrate that they’re deeply knowledgeable about the labor market. 

A typical vocational expert witness California must also possess a substantial amount of experience with the sources recognized by the SSA such as:

1. Dictionary of Occupational Titles
2. Census reports
3. Occupational Outlook Handbook
4. County Business Patterns

Additionally, they must be well-versed in vocational and earning capacity, cost of replacement labor and lost earnings, and vocational rehabilitation. 

What Does a Disability Benefits Hearing Look Like?

Now that you’re familiar with what vocational expert witness California does, let’s take a better look at their role in a benefits hearing.

Once they are called in to testify under an oath, the vocational experts are supplied by the judge with all the evidence regarding the case. They also need to review the past work history of the claimants. 

At the hearing itself, the administrative law judge will ask the expert witness a series of questions. 

These are typically framed as hypothetical so for example, the judge might say: ‘’what is a possibility that a person of a similar age, work experience, and level of education as the claimant is unable to lift 50 pounds?’’

The vocational expert witness California will then provide their opinion on whether the hypothetical person can perform the work described in the question. If the witness concludes that the hypothetical person is capable enough of performing the work, they will consider whether there are alternative jobs the person can perform. 

The Benefits Of Hiring a Lawyer

It’s also important to note that you can ask the expert witness questions yourself. 

You should hire a lawyer to get the most out of this process. One of the major reasons why you should opt for their service is because the questions that the judge asks might not cover all bases. This is where an experienced lawyer can come in handy. 

How so?

Lawyers who are highly practiced in disability hearings know how to thoroughly examine a vocational expert to get the best results. A lawyer will pose questions that will rule out different types of jobs, or they may add certain limitations to the questions posed by the judge. For example, a lawyer might explain additional symptoms that the judge may have overlooked.

With a legal professional in your corner, you stand a better chance of explaining the functional limitations stemming from your condition. Through a set of well-placed questions to the vocational experts, a lawyer can effectively prove that your disability is making it impossible for you to perform past work or other jobs.

Hiring Your Own Vocational Expert Witness California

While SSA hires these expert witnesses, nothing is stopping you from hiring one yourself. 

Your lawyer can cross-examine all the witnesses at your hearing to get more information or even cast a doubt on their testimony.

Nevertheless, you might need a bit more oomph to ensure that the hearing goes as smoothly and favorably as possible.

By hiring a vocational expert witness California you can present a second opinion that differs from the one testifying for the SSA to the judge. Why does it matter?

Judges render their decisions on the evidence presented to them, so if an expert witness that the SSA hired says you can work, you’re in trouble. Since you won’t have any additional proof that the testimony is wrong the judge will usually have to deny your claim.

However, if you hire your own vocational expert witness California, you have a fighting chance to prove the unfavorable testimony wrong.

Finding a Vocational Expert Witness California

So, now what? How do you go about finding a vocational expert?

You can let your lawyer (if you have one) find an expert themselves, but remember - you’ve still got a say in this. You need someone with extensive experience in this field and who has proven to be effective. 

Look no further than an OAS vocational expert. We cover all areas including personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, age discrimination, wrongful termination, and above all, workers’ compensation. 

We can help you and your lawyer present a better case and provide you with an opportunity to paint a clear picture to the judge what exactly your disability is like. 

With OAS, you can bridge the gap between medical evidence that relates to your disability and economic reports that project future damages. We have all the necessary expertise in the fields of rehabilitation, earning capacity, and employability which allows us to support and enhance your testimony. Ultimately, on your behalf, we can properly educate the judge on the impact of your condition on your employability and earning potential. 

No need to go at it alone - contact OAS at 1-800-292-1919 and hire us as your vocational expert witness California to claim the benefits you rightfully deserve!

Note:

The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not make legal decisions based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.