Modify the RFC from ALJ's hypotheticals or generate your own based on specific evidence from the medical record.
Attorneys - in advocating for claimants - should identify how the medical evidence impacts occupational limitations and reduces available jobs. Outdated occupational data, inaccurate VE testimony, and ineffective cross-examination strategies create avoidable obstacles in getting justice for claimants.
Common challenges include:
- Overlooking key vocational elements in the medical record
- Not understanding how to modify ALJ's hypotheticals in the claimant's favor
- Effectively cross-examining a VE on their methodology and data sets
- Difficulty utilizing ORS data throughout the hearing process
Compare Profiles: See Every RFC Scenario, Side by Side
Job numbers change with every choice in an RFC checklist. Now you can line up to three profiles for multiple SOC codes on a single screen and see exactly how full-time jobs and RFC Coefficients shift.
Select SOCs to Compare and Launch
In the first column of the Premium Jobs page, click the checkboxes of the SOC Codes to compare, then click the new Compare Profiles button. Works with one SOC Code or several at once.
Select profiles to compare
Click the “+ Add Profile” button and select up to three profiles to compare.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Each profile becomes its own column with SVP, strength, and posture assumptions listed at the top. Matching values highlight in green so differences stand out instantly. Drag column grippers to reorder.
Create Your Own Hypothetical
Present your own hypothetical during the hearing
Ask the VE if they factored in other RFC limitations like work pace speed, ability to pause work and working with crowds not required. If not, ask the VE to update their hypothetical to match yours and compare their revised numbers. Present your own hypothetical, built from your client's medical evidence and show how the extra factors or ORS limit the job numbers even more.
If the VE cannot recalculate live:
If the VE is unable to provide job estimates based on the new RFC limitations, ask if they are using a subset of the ORS factors. Refer to your new RFC limitations and the significant drop in the total job number availibility.
