Background

This transmittal adds section I-2-1-31 to the Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual to clarify how vocational experts are qualified at the hearing level.

Explanation of Content and Changes

HALLEX I-2-1-31 is organized as follows:

I-2-1-31 – We titled the section “Professional Qualifications of Vocational Sources.”

I-2-1-31 A – We titled the subsection “Vocational Specialist (VS)” and included a reference to the Program Operations Manual System for how a VS is qualified. We explained that an administrative law judge (ALJ) need not admit a statement of a VS's qualifications into the record.

I-2-1-31 B – We titled the subsection “Vocational Expert (VE)” and explained how an Office of Disability Adjudication and Review regional office qualifies VEs. We also incorporated information previously in HALLEX I-2-5-52, clarifying the limited circumstances in which an ALJ will qualify a VE. We also explained that an ALJ will document the VE's qualifications in the claim(s) file and on the record.

Date: June 16, 2016