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  • 1.  SSA to "jettison" certain DOTs from determinations

    Posted 06-24-2024 12:20
    Edited by DT North 06-24-2024 12:21

    I'm not a member of the SSVE section. Maybe someone who is can cross reference. See article link below.

    I would like to know how SSA will exclude selected DOT titles from hearings. While many of us agree that many of the distinct DOT Titles no longer exist, let alone in any significant numbers, if they start to dictate what jobs in the DOT a VE can provide, that could be a slippery slope for dictating what VEs can testify on a fact. Not trying to be a Chicken Little here, just maintain the boundaries of vocational expert work. 

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/24/social-security-disability-benefits-jobs-list-outdated/



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    DT North
    President
    dt@achieveconsultingteam.com
    Olympia, WA United States
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  • 2.  RE: SSA to "jettison" certain DOTs from determinations

    Posted 06-24-2024 13:56

    Here are the just announced directives to SSA ALJ's. These occupations can be used but require additional support/evidence from the VE in order to be acceptable.

    EM-24026: Isolated Occupations We Will Not Use to Support a "Not Disabled" Finding at Step Five of the Sequential Evaluation Process

    EM 24027: Guidance Regarding the Citation of Certain Occupations at Step Five of the Sequential Evaluation Process

    Will blunders never cease?



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    Jeff Truthan, MS-Rehabilitation Counseling, CVE
    President - SkillTRAN LLC - https://skilltran.com
    Spokane Valley, WA 99206
    (800) 827-2182 (Voice & Fax)
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  • 3.  RE: SSA to "jettison" certain DOTs from determinations

    Posted 06-24-2024 13:59

    I had a feeling that you were on top of this Jeff. Thank you, sir. 



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    DT North
    President
    dt@achieveconsultingteam.com
    Olympia, WA United States
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  • 4.  RE: SSA to "jettison" certain DOTs from determinations

    Posted 06-25-2024 13:48

    Great article, DT. Yes, I am confident that the SSVE Listserv is probably abuzz. But, like you, the vast majority of IARP members and I (despite actually both creating the list and the group along with Tom Dunleavy years ago) are unfairly and illogically restricted from access to SSVE. Such is discriminatory. What occurs at SSA and in the SSVE world very directly impacts all we do in public/private VR, WC, LTD, and forensic cases. The US Government invented VR. The US government SSVE program is the genesis of the VE. The CFRs relating to SSA vocational provide the underlying foundation for all transferable skills methodologies and software programs in wide use. 

    Look at the numbers on IARP Connect. The SSVE forum has nearly twice as many discussions as forensic (which once vibrant goes silent for many weeks). It has exponentially higher numbers of discussions as barely used LCP and Rehab forums. The nonsense of that is the fact that what is being actively discussed at SSVE would obviously be useful and benefit those in all other forums. In my view, the exclusion amounts to a type of counterproductive (or perhaps intentional) protectionism/control of turf/market. New, emerging professionals and IARP members in general are prevented form benefitting from what is being discussed on SSVE, particularly if they wish to at some point become an SSVE (or to do other forensics of any kind, since most VEs have done or now do SSVE and tend to be the most highly skilled VEs). 

    it is time for a change, already.



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    Scott T. Stipe, MA, CRC, CDMS, IPEC, D/ABVE
    Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
    Board Certified Vocational Expert
    Scott Stipe & Associates, Inc.
    DBA Career Directions Northwest
    4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd
    #188
    Portland, Oregon, 97214
    (503)807-2668
    email: sstipecrc@gmail.com
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