It's Like They Don't Want Any MEs

     Social Security has posted list of fees paid for Vocational and Medical Experts at hearings for 2018. Basically, it's $77 for the first appearance of the day and $39 for each additional appearance for VEs. It's $80 for each appearance for MEs. No wonder they can't get MEs. That's laughably low.

Preview Of Oral Argument In Biestek v. Berryhill

     SCOTUSblog has an excellent preview of the December 4 oral argument before the Supreme Court in Biestek v. Berryhill, a case presenting the issue: 

Whether a vocational expert’s testimony can constitute substantial evidence of “other work,” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(v), available to an applicant for social security benefits on the basis of a disability, when the expert fails upon the applicant’s request to provide the underlying data on which that testimony is premised.

     How will things be different if Biestek prevails? I don't know if the Social Security Administration or its vocational experts (VEs) are ready for the day after such a Supreme Court opinion. If VEs aren't able to provide the underlying data, and they won't, can a federal court affirm a Social Security decision denying the claimant on the basis of that VE testimony? How does Social Security respond to such a situation? Social Security has been delaying and delaying its new vocational information system. How does that fit into this?