Social Security

Summary of Revisions:

- Added new guidance from SSR 24-3p requiring vocational explanation when a VE or VS uses information that is different from our regulatory terms and definitions.
- Removed references and outdated guidance based on SSR 00-4p, which has been archived.
- Edited the References section.

A. Purpose

This Emergency Message (EM) provides guidance for policy-compliant use of occupational information from Digital Library electronic tools.

B. Background

In making disability determinations and decisions, SSA takes administrative notice of reliable job information from various governmental and other publications, including the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) (including its companion publication, the Selected Characteristics of Occupations (SCO)). The SSA Digital Library hosts three searchable databases developed by SkillTRAN for the DOT. Adjudicators may use these tools to help make an assessment at step four (see 20 CFR 404.1560(b)(2) and 416.960(b)(2)) or step five (see 20 CFR 404.1566(d), 404.1568(d)(2), 416.966(d), and 416.968(d)(2)) of the sequential evaluation process.

1. OccuBrowse: Users can access this program in the SSA Digital Library. Upon opening the OccuBrowse program, the “Browse” tab allows users to search for occupations in multiple ways. Through the “Worker Trait Search” button, users can search for occupations at any skill level that are within a claimant’s Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). Users can also perform searches based on keywords within the job title, within the task description, or within both. This program also allows searches by using a variety of other lists such as industry, Guide for Occupational Exploration (GOE), or occupational group. After locating an occupation, users can find all DOT/SCO information on the “Description,” “Requirements,” and “Codes” tabs.

2. Job Browser Pro: Users can access this program in the SSA Digital Library. In Job Browser Pro, users can search by job title, DOT code or keyword(s) within the title and task description. After selecting an occupation and clicking “Details,” users can find all DOT/SCO information on the “Quick View – Codes” button and in the “Requirements” tab. As in OccuBrowse, there are many browse groups that provide different ways of exploring occupational groups. Users may also search using a variety of other lists, such as GOE or occupational group.

3. OASYS: Users can also access this program in the SSA Digital Library. This tool contains the same functionality as OccuBrowse and Job Browser Pro. It can perform a wide variety of searches.

NOTE: We remind DDS and SSA adjudicators, vocational specialists (VS), and vocational experts (VE) that while these references are useful tools, they do not replace SSA policy or adjudicative judgment and decision-making. For example, OASYS is useful in suggesting potential occupations for citation in a Transferability of Skills Assessment (TSA) but cannot be relied upon to produce results that conform to SSA policy. It may include occupations that SSA would not consider acceptable in a TSA search or exclude reasonable possibilities for a TSA. The adjudicator, not the tool, must make the final determination about whether skills are transferable in accordance with SSA policy.

OccuBrowse, Job Browser Pro, and OASYS contain DOT and SCO occupational information developed by the United States Department of Labor (DOL). This information is useful, but it does not replace SSA policy or adjudicative judgment and decision-making. While the DOT and SCO are acceptable sources of occupational information for adjudicating disability claims, OccuBrowse, Job Browser Pro, and OAYSYS also contain (1) information that is different from our regulatory terms and definitions and (2) information of which we do not take administrative notice.

1. Information that is different from our regulatory terms and definitions:

Our rules (such as regulatory terms and definitions) and our guidance are controlling for adjudicators (SSR 24-3p). If a VE or VS cites a data source that defines exertion, skill, or education differently than how the agency defines those terms, the VE or VS, must acknowledge the difference and explain whether or how this difference has been accounted for in the evidence the VE or VS provided.

The following information is generally inconsistent with SSA’s terms:

Aptitudes and Work Situations (Temperaments). These ratings do not represent functional requirements for work because they reflect the personal interests, natural abilities, and personality characteristics of job incumbents rather than occupational requirements that adjudicators must consider when assessing the vocational impact of limitations or restrictions resulting from a medically determinable impairment(s), as is required for SSA’s disability programs.

Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Information: O*NET does not define physical exertion requirements in a way that is consistent with SSA regulations (20 CFR 404.1567 and 416.967). O*NET instead groups lifting with activities that SSA rules define as non-exertional (e.g., climbing, stooping, and handling). Accordingly, the information in O*NET is not generally usable in our adjudication process.


2. Information about which we do not take administrative notice:

Obtain VS or VE evidence before relying on any of the following content:

a. Labor Market information.
Federal agencies now publish labor market information by the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. Those with vocational expertise use various approaches to arrive at informed estimates of numbers of jobs that exist within a DOT occupation. Results may differ given the method used for the estimate. We have not reviewed and do not specifically endorse the SkillTRAN proprietary algorithm.

b. Occupations that were not published in the 1991 DOT and SCO. Some SkillTRAN products include 21 additional occupations and two revised occupations (*last two in the chart below) developed by the DOL that were not published in the 1991 DOT. While a VS or VE could provide evidence that considers an occupation not published in the DOT, adjudicators must be careful not to take administrative notice of SkillTRAN content added after 1991 when the DOT was last updated. These non-DOT occupations are provided for reference in the following table:

Occupations DOL developed but did not publish
Unpublished DOT Code	Title
019.062-010	Geographic Information System Specialist
029.261-030	Microscopist, Asbestos
031.167-018	Telecommunications Specialist
076.224-018	Movement Therapist
078.367-014	Specimen Processor
079.262-014	Medical Record Coder
094.224-022	Employment Training Specialist
162.117-034	Media Buyer
164.117-022	Media Planner
169.117-018	Provider Relations Representative
169.117-022	Meeting Planner
186.117-090	Compliance Officer
195.107-050	Bereavement Counselor
195.167-046	Health Services Coordinator
195.167-050	Case Manager
211.367-014	Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) Servicer
319.557-010	Mini Bar Attendant
359.567-014	Tanning Salon Attendant
599.584-010	Reuse Technician
849.464-010	Solar Film Installer (Automotive Svcs.)
869.381-038	Overhead Door Installer
079.262-010	Utilization-Review Coordinator*
169.167-090	Quality Assurance Coordinator*

For additional information, see https://skilltran.com/pubs/new21occs_1998.pdf.