Opinion ID: 3061737
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Fifth Step – Existence of Work

Text: On appeal, Peeler does not challenge the ALJ’s findings as to the first four steps. Instead, Peeler argues that the ALJ committed legal error at the fifth step. Specifically, Peeler contends the ALJ could not rely on Dr. Feldman’s testimony as 5 to the number of sedentary, unskilled jobs in the national economy Peeler could perform because Dr. Feldman’s testimony conflicted with the DOT.4 At the fifth step, the Commissioner shows that work exists in the national economy when “it exists in significant numbers either in the region where [the claimant] live[s] or in several other regions of the country.” 20 C.F.R. § 416.966(a). In determining whether unskilled, sedentary, light or medium work exists in the national economy that the claimant can perform, the ALJ can “take administrative notice of reliable job information available from various governmental and other publications,” such as the DOT, which is published by the Department of Labor. Id. § 416.966(d)(1).5 The ALJ can also use a VE. See id. § 416.966(e) (stating that the VE can be used to determine “whether [the claimant’s] work skills can be used in other work and the specific occupations in which they can be used,” as well as for other “similarly complex issue[s]”); see also Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995) (explaining that when the claimant has non-exertional impairments, the 4 We review de novo the legal principles underlying the Commissioner’s final decision, but review “the resulting decision only to determine whether it is supported by substantial evidence.” Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1211 (11th Cir. 2005). 5 Sedentary work involves lifting no more than ten pounds at a time, with occasional lifting or carrying of articles such as docket files, ledgers or small tools, and occasional walking or standing. 20 C.F.R. § 416.967(a). Light work involves lifting no more than twenty pounds at a time, with frequent lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to ten pounds, and a good deal of walking, standing or sitting and manipulating arm and leg controls. Id. § 416.967(b). “These terms have the same meaning as they have in the [DOT].” 20 C.F.R. § 416.967. 6 Commissioner demonstrates that the claimant can perform other jobs through VE’s testimony); Allen v. Sullivan, 880 F.2d 1200, 1202 (11th Cir. 1989) (explaining that the ALJ relies on VE testimony to show the existence of work in the economy when the claimant cannot perform a full range of work at a given level of exertion). While the DOT “provides occupational information on jobs in the national economy,” it “is not comprehensive” nor “the sole source of admissible information concerning jobs.” Jones, 190 F.3d at 1230 (quotation marks omitted). Consequently, “the ALJ should supplement DOT data with local information detailing jobs in the regional community.” Id. Furthermore, “when the VE’s testimony conflicts with the DOT, the VE’s testimony ‘trumps’ the DOT.” Id. at 1229-30. If the hypothetical question posed by the ALJ contains all the claimant’s impairments, the VE’s testimony of other jobs the claimant can perform constitutes substantial evidence to support the Commissioner’s decision. Id. at 1229.