2026 NADR CONFERENCE SEssion
This advanced training session explores some of the most important — and often overlooked — Social Security Rulings (SSRs) that can strengthen disability claims, support Appeals Council remands, and improve hearing-level advocacy. Presented by nationally recognized Social Security disability expert Sarah Bohr, this course walks representatives through key rulings tied to the sequential evaluation process, RFC development, vocational evidence, symptom evaluation, grids, past relevant work, and Appeals Council remand issues.
Recorded on March 24, 2026 in Plano Texas
Participants will learn how SSRs interact with regulations, medical evidence, vocational testimony, and ALJ decision-making — with practical strategies for identifying legal errors, preserving issues for appeal, and building stronger records from the initial filing through federal court review.
This session also highlights common remand reasons identified by the Appeals Council and explains how representatives can use SSRs proactively to challenge inadequate RFC findings, unsupported vocational testimony, improper symptom evaluations, and failures to properly develop the record.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify key Social Security Rulings relevant to each step of the sequential evaluation process
- Explain how SSRs impact RFC findings, vocational evidence, symptom evaluation, and past relevant work analysis
- Recognize common Appeals Council remand issues tied to SSR violations
- Apply SSR 96-8p to challenge inadequate RFC assessments and overlooked limitations
- Use SSR 16-3p to address subjective symptom evaluation and treatment compliance issues
- Analyze how SSR 24-3p changed vocational evidence requirements and representative responsibilities at hearing
- Understand how the medical-vocational guidelines (“the grids”) interact with exertional and non-exertional limitations
- Identify special vocational profiles and favorable rules for older claimants under SSR 24-1p
- Develop arguments involving assistive devices, environmental limitations, mental limitations, and transferability of skills
- Recognize when lay evidence, school records, or non-medical evidence can strengthen disability claims
- Spot hearing and post-hearing errors that may support Appeals Council or federal court remand
- Develop practical hearing strategies for preserving vocational and evidentiary challenges on the record
- Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for:
- Social Security disability representatives
- Attorneys and non-attorney advocates
- Case managers and hearing representatives
- EDPNA candidates and experienced practitioners
- Anyone seeking deeper knowledge of SSR-based advocacy strategies
