What about the age of the claimant during the Disability Determination process?  Does it matter? 

Absolutely!  The age of the claimant, combined with the level and type of previous work, will play a huge part in what happens during the Appeals stage of the SSA Disability Determination Process.  This means the impartial witness duties of the Social Security Vocational Expert (SSAVE) must also consider the age of the claimant when the SSVE conducts research and presents a brief work history.  This age consideration would also apply during the SSAVE response to Hypothetical limitations posed by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and could influence the final decision of the court!