be the lifeline that you need. If you’re successful in securing these benefits, then they can provide you with the financial stability you need while you’re unable to work and need to focus on treating your condition.
Unfortunately, many disability claims are denied. Some are denied due to a lack of medical evidence to support the claim, while others are denied because the claimant fails to seek out appropriate medical treatment.
Another factor comes into play in many cases that could lead to claim denial or the cessation of benefits: social media use.
You need support while you cope with your disabling injury or illness. Turning to social media may be one way for you to connect with family members and friends who can give you the encouragement and affection that you need. But posting on social media can also be risky for your disability claim.
The government and insurance companies have an interest in only paying benefits to those that they deem deserving. If they can find a way to deny a claim or to pay less than requested, then they save money. Therefore, their analysis of your claim is very much focused on what they can avoid doing rather than what they should be doing for you. Therefore, your social media posts may end up being weaponized against you.
How? Quite simply, pictures and posts of you engaging in activities that exceed your claimed limitations may be used to show that your disability claim is misleading or outright false. Although there are restrictions on how the government can use your social media posts against you in the disability claims process, they can still utilize them if they think that your claim is fraudulent in nature. This gives them a lot of latitude to misconstrue your posts and twist them in a way that makes you look bad. Also, unconscious bias may come into play if a claims adjudicator views your social media page, even if they can’t rely on your posts when making their decision.
How you can protect yourself during the disability claims process
We know the disability claims process can be incredibly stressful. But there are steps that you can take to make the process easier for yourself. This includes:
- Avoiding posting on social media if at all possible.
- If you’re going to use social media, change your privacy settings so that your posts are only visible to those you trust.
- Know the law on relying on social media use during the claims adjudication process.
- Be aware of your disability claim appellate rights.
Remember, a lot of disability claims are denied. If yours ends up rejected, don’t give up. You can still pursue the appellate process, which oftentimes results in the recovery of benefits for disabled individuals.
Navigate your disability claim with aggressiveness and confidence
Your financial stability is on the line when you apply for disability benefits. If you don’t fight for the support that you deserve, then you could lose out on an opportunity to secure financial stability, thereby leaving you in a difficult position.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be alone in your battle to secure disability benefits. Instead, you can surround yourself with assistance and resources aimed at securing the outcome you deserve. You just have to be proactive in seeking it out. Hopefully then you’ll be able to move onto the next chapter of your life without wondering how you’re going to make ends meet.
