Social media has become one of the dominant ways that people communicate with each other. A single post announcing a job change or pregnancy can save someone dozens of repetitive phone calls.
Many people use social media to maintain a specific image, and they post things that they may not share with the same people in a face-to-face situation. Social media users often fail to consider how their online actions could impact their real-world lives.
While you may want to present your best life to others, downplaying your medical condition on social media could have a negative impact on your claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
What you say online could directly affect your claim
For several years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has openly admitted to doing claim research on the internet. They will check social media platforms for different applicants to see if their content contradicts their claims and their application.
If you say that you have pain so severe that you can’t focus enough to do your job, recent pictures showing you smiling with friends could hurt your claim. Even if you require crutches or a wheelchair to get around most of the time, a picture of you standing without assistance could make people question the severity of your medical issues.
Applicants may want to make their accounts on social media more private, or they may want to make them hidden and stop posting anything at least until they start receiving benefits. Learning more about what could affect your claim for SSDI benefits can help improve your chances of getting those benefits.