Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials
Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials
Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials
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54. Medical <strong>and</strong> Vocational Expert Participation in ALJ Hearings—Fiscal Years 1977-201080%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%19771979198119831985198719891991199319951997199920012003200520072009Vocational ExpertMedical ExpertThe use <strong>of</strong> vocational experts by ALJs has increased greatly since 1980, <strong>and</strong> they are now used in aboutthree-fourths <strong>of</strong> all ALJ hearings, even though they rely on an outdated Dictionary <strong>of</strong> Occupational Titlesto support their testimony. (The adoption <strong>of</strong> vocational regulations (SSR 82-41) in 1979 was supposed toreduce their use. Later court decisions <strong>and</strong> regulatory changes, however, contributed to increased use.)Over the same period, the use <strong>of</strong> medical experts grew from about 4 percent in 1977 to a high <strong>of</strong> about20 percent in 2005. ALJs now use medical experts in about 14 percent <strong>of</strong> their cases.<strong>Aspects</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Disability</strong> <strong>Decision</strong> <strong>Making</strong>: <strong>Data</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Materials</strong> 59
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