The Social Security Administration (SSA) processes numerous disabled worker applications each year. In adult disability claims, SSA employs a strict five-step sequential disability evaluation to decide whether a person is disabled. Many adult Social Security Disability claimants either win or lose at the fifth and final step, where an SSA adjudicator decides whether there is “a significant number of jobs (in one or more occupations) having requirements which you are able to meet with your physical or mental abilities and vocational qualifications.” This article examines the vocational evidence that SSA uses to decide the significant number of jobs issue. It also presents the results of a case survey the author performed that probes into the reliability of vocational evidence that SSA obtains from vocational experts (VE) to decide the significant number of jobs issue
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