A professional who adjudicates social welfare tax or benefit eligibility issues filed by disabled or unemployed claimants or employers. Responsibilities include:

• Arranges and conducts hearings to discover pertinent facts bearing on claim in accord with federal and state laws and procedures.
• Renders decisions affirming or denying previous ruling, based on testimony, claim records, applicable provisions of law, and established precedents.
• Writes decision explaining ruling and informs interested parties of results.
• Confers with personnel of employer or agency involved to obtain additional information bearing on appeal, and to clarify future implications of decisions.
• May participate in court proceedings against claimants attempting to obtain benefits through fraud.
• May render informal opinions on points of law in questionable cases to facilitate initial determination of benefit eligibility or imposition of penalties.
• May be required to hold law degree or license to practice law.