Social Media Activity Can Impact Your Claim for Disability

Statistically speaking, there’s a good chance that you’re active on social media or at least sign into one of the many networking platforms on a somewhat regular basis. Data compiled by the Pew Research Center indicate that 70 percent of American adults use Facebook, 73 percent watch videos on YouTube, and 37 percent publish and view photo content through Instagram. As a responsible user, you probably take precautions in what you share with friends and family, knowing that your content has almost unlimited reach once you post it.

What you may not realize as you stay in touch with your community is that your social media activities can impact your claim if you’re unable to work and file a claim for disability benefits. Your comments, pictures, video, and other content can come back to haunt you, so you should talk to your Maryland disability lawyer about specific do’s and don’ts. However, it’s also important to understand why social media can lead to problems with getting approval on your claim. 

Insurance Companies Will Investigate: Many Maryland employers offer various perks for employees, such as health care plans, retirement benefits, and long-term disability (LTD) insurance. If you have LTD coverage, you may seek disability benefits when you suffer from a medical condition that prevents you from working or limits you in your job. If your injury or illness was caused by work-related conditions, you may have a claim for benefits under Maryland’s workers’ compensation laws.

In either scenario, you’ll be filing a claim for benefits with an insurance company – the one carrying your LTD policy OR the insurer who provides workers’ comp insurance for your employer. Upon receiving your claim, the insurance company will conduct an investigation into your medical condition and the circumstances that led to it. You probably expect that the adjuster will:

• Carefully review your medical records;
• Talk to your employer and/or witnesses, if you were hurt because of a work-related accident;
• Request that you participate in a medical examination by a physician hired by the insurance company; and,
• Engage in other tasks to verify your claim.
  

You may NOT expect the insurance adjuster to review your social media posts, but this is exactly where you may put your claim at risk. 

Why Your Social Media Activity Matters: The content you post to your social media profile tells a story about your life, but it may share too much. If the insurance adjuster sees photos of you engaging in physical activity, traveling, working at another job, volunteering your time – or any other endeavors that are inconsistent with your injuries – you may expect a denial of your claim. It’s best to limit what you post, adjust your privacy settings, and refrain from commenting on any topic that’s related to your medical condition. 

Set Up a Free Consultation with a Maryland Disability Attorney 

Our Maryland long-term disability lawyers at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC have extensive experience helping clients file for benefits through both long-term disability and workers’ compensation claims. We’re prepared to advise you throughout the process, so please contact our locations in Glen Burnie, Owings Mills, Ellicott City, or Annapolis, MD today to schedule a no-cost consultation today.

Resource:

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/10/share-of-u-s-adults-using-social-media-including-facebook-is-mostly-unchanged-since-2018/

https://www.steinhardtlawfirm.com/contesting-short-term-or-long-term-disability-insurance-denials/