
In today's hyper-connected society many of us think nothing of posting photos of ourselves spending a day at the beach, or at the finish line of a half-marathon. With social media a part of many of our everyday lives, many people share these sorts of events on a regular basis. As such, many New York City disability lawyers are increasingly finding that this open sharing could land claimants in hot water with claim investigators.
Your Facebook Profile Could Be Damaging Evidence
Unless you have your social media privacy settings on high to allow only friends to see your content you may be sharing more than you want others to see. An open social media profile means anyone - employers, your ex, and disability benefits claim adjusters - can see what you post on your Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace profiles.
Many disability insurance companies are looking to social media to investigate claimants when their disability benefits are reviewed. A claimant that has been receiving disability benefits for chronic back pain is going to raise questions when a claims adjuster finds pictures of her on a mountain biking trip. These are the kinds of photos and details your New York City disability lawyer will caution you about.
Because anything you post on an unsecured social media profile is public domain, disability benefits claim adjusters can use your profile as a lead to determine if further investigation into your disability is necessary. Many insurance companies have already begun to include social media checks as a regular part of screening for disability benefits.
Protecting Your Disability Claim
When you begin the disability claim process you should consult with a New York City disability lawyer to discuss the dos and don'ts during the claims process. It is important to be honest about any limitations caused by your disability to avoid being accused of fraud. After filing a claim for disability benefits, and even after being approved, your case may be reviewed from time to time to ensure you are still eligible to receive your disability benefits.
The disability claims adjuster assigned to your case may potentially scout your social media profiles to see recent activity. Unless you have public access disabled on your account they may be able to see all your latest photos, posts, and interactions with friends.
If anything seems suspicious this could provoke investigation, or in some cases outright denial of disability benefits. Beware of "fake friends" (people you don't know) who try to follow you or friend you, as these may be employees of an insurance company trying to covertly check out your activities.
If you do not take care to prevent unwanted access to your social media profiles you may run the risk of damaging your chances at receiving or keeping your disability benefits. If you receive a benefit denial or cut off without a valid reasoning you may need a New York City disability lawyer to help fight for your case.
Contacting a New York City Disability Lawyer
Filing a Social Security disability claim isn't as simple as an online form and some medical files. To obtain the maximum amount of benefits with the least amount of hassle you need the professional help and guidance of an experienced New York City disability lawyer.
Before you file your Social Security disability claim, be sure to take advantage of this free consumer's guide: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Filing a Social Security Disability Claim. Contact a New York City disability lawyer at Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola for help in building your disability claim - 1-800-976-4904.
Begin your case review by filling out the form below:
Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola
1610 Richmond Road
Staten Island, NY 10304
Phone: 718.979.4300
Fax: (718) 351-3514
Toll Free: 800.310.5520
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