We live in a culture where it’s becoming more and more expected to tell the world about every single thing that you do on social media, from “Had a blast at the baseball game tonight” to “Finally cleared all that junk out of the attic – whew!” Both of those are things you might see any one of your friends post at any given time. They are also things that you might find yourself doing if you were out of work due to a disability because of all the extra free time you have.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that neither one of those activities really does anything to disprove a disability claim, more and more insurers are delving deeply into people’s lives in an attempt to discredit claims. Even if you just want to update those friends and family members you’re not seeing because of your disability, saying the wrong thing on social media can have dire consequences.
Social Media Etiquette During the Claims Process
So, what can you do to protect yourself from these kinds of tactics?
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Stop Posting
The most effective way to keep your insurer from using your social media posts against you is to stop giving them ammunition altogether. Instead of posting to Facebook, try emailing friends and family members or calling them.
Change your Privacy Settings
You don’t necessarily have to go cold turkey on social media. One way to keep yourself more protected while continuing to post as usual is to make sure that you’re only sending updates like the ones mentioned above to those specific friends and family members you want to see them.
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Choose your Words Carefully
Alternately, you can simply avoid posting about things that make it look like you’re running around and essentially “playing hooky” when you’re supposed to be burdened with a disability. Unfortunately, something that may seem innocuous to you may still be used against you, so stopping with social media completely is the best policy.
Of course, none of this advice matters if your insurer has already used this tactic against you. Don’t despair, though – experienced long term disability attorneys will tell you that your social media posts usually don’t prove anything, and they know how to fight back against these kinds of insurance company accusations. See how a good lawyer can help your long term disability claim by reading our free long term disability eBook.
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