Chapter: I-2-8
Subject: Administrative Law Judge Decisions
This transmittal amends section I-2-8-20 of chapter I-2-8 of the Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual to implement Social Security Ruling (SSR) 24-3p, Titles II and XVI: Use of Occupational Information and Vocational Specialist and Vocational Expert Evidence in Disability Determinations and Decisions, which replaces SSR 00-4p: Titles II and XVI: Use of Vocational Expert and Vocational Specialist Evidence, and Other Reliable Occupational Information in Disability Decisions.
I-2-8-20 – In subsection A, we updated the term from Hearings Customer Service Specialists to Legal Specialists among the people who write decision drafts. In subsection B, we updated the list of things the ALJ instructions must generally include. The main change was stating the instructions should include an evaluation of VE evidence consistent with SSR 24-3p and HALLEX I-2-6-74. In subsection C, we clarified that ALJs should avoid instructing writers to listen to the VE's testimony without stating the occupations, corresponding number of jobs, and sufficiency or supportability of the VE evidence.
Date: January 6, 2025