How Facebook, Twitter & Social Media Can Affect Your Social Security Disability Application

Administrative Law Judges are not allowed to google the name of clients and find out information about them. But, just because they are not allowed to do it, doesn't mean that they don't do it. Maybe that's just the cynic in me. But, I don't assume that just because it's been banned that Social Security judges and disability examiners that work for Social Security don't ever use the internet to look up a claimant's name.

This Delaware Disability law firm has some useful advice:

What I suggest that you do if you are applying for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income payments is do a Google search for yourself and know what is viewable if you aren’t logged into any websites. If you are not sure if information you have posted would be viewed negative, then you probably should not have it publicly available. After you have deleted (or made private) anything you think could be viewed negative, ask a family member or close friend to view your public page to determine if they think anything is still negative. Even consider removing information from your private page that could be viewed negative. You would be shocked how often friends or family report possible fraud in disability claims because of things they see or hear.

Just because you are applying for disability doesn't mean you have to live like a hermit or that you have to be miserable 24/7. But, it's all about perspective. You don't want to somehow give someone the wrong impression based on a comment or picture you post on a social media website.  Especially if that person is responsible for deciding whether or not you get disability benefits.