If you’re applying for or receiving long-term disability (LTD) benefits, you probably know to be careful about what you say to your doctors and the insurance company. But there’s another place insurers increasingly look for red flags: your LinkedIn profile.
Even if you haven’t touched your profile in years, what it says—or doesn’t say—can be used to question your credibility.
Why Do Insurance Companies Look at LinkedIn?
When you file an LTD claim, you’re saying that you are unable to perform the duties of your job due to a disabling condition. That makes LinkedIn especially relevant, because it’s designed to showcase your professional identity—past and present.
Disability insurance companies routinely review LinkedIn for signs that you may still be working, starting a business, or actively networking in your field. A seemingly harmless update or job title could become a reason to delay, deny, or terminate your benefits.
Insurance companies may look for:
- Evidence that you’re still working
- Signs that you’re actively seeking employment
- Indications that you’ve started your own business
- Inconsistencies between your reported job duties and your profile
- Activity that suggests you’re capable of cognitive, physical, or managerial tasks
Even passive signs, like an “open to work” banner or a profile update, can raise suspicion.
Common LinkedIn Red Flags in LTD Claims
- “Open to Work” Status: LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” feature tells recruiters you’re available for new opportunities. Unfortunately, it also tells your disability insurer that you may not be as impaired as you claim.
- Engagement With Professional Content: Even if you’re not working, liking or sharing industry news, posting updates, or commenting on career-related topics can suggest ongoing interest and involvement in your profession.
- Skill Endorsements and Profile Updates: Adding certifications, updating skills, or receiving endorsements may seem routine to you, but to an insurer, they may signal that you’re preparing to return to work.
- Mismatched Job Descriptions: If your LinkedIn profile downplays the demands of your prior job compared to what you’ve described in your disability paperwork, the insurer may argue that your claim is exaggerated or inconsistent.
Starting a Business? Your LinkedIn Could Tell on You
One of the most concerning signals you can send on LinkedIn is that you’ve started your own business. Even if it’s just a side venture or hasn’t generated income, insurers will see it as a major red flag.
If your profile lists you as:
- “Founder”
- “Owner”
- “Self-employed”
- “Consultant”
…they may assume you’re working or preparing to work. And that assumption can lead to:
- Requests for tax returns, business licenses, or invoices
- Claims that your condition no longer meets the policy’s definition of disability
- Surveillance or monitoring of your daily activities
Even if you’ve only set up a basic page and haven’t taken on any clients, the intent to work is often enough to trigger a closer look. If you’ve started a business, or are considering doing so, talk to your doctor first. Then consult a disability attorney to evaluate the potential impact on your claim.
What You Should Do With Your LinkedIn Profile
You don’t necessarily have to delete your LinkedIn account, but you should take steps to ensure it reflects your current situation and doesn’t contradict your disability claim.
Here are some recommended actions:
- Update your job title and end date to reflect when you stopped working
- Remove “open to work” indicators and any job-seeking language
- Pause engagement with professional posts or connections
- Review your job descriptions for consistency with your claim and medical records
- Set your profile to private or limit visibility to your network
Every detail should align with your current capacity and documented impairments.
Don’t Let Your LinkedIn Profile Undermine Your Claim
Insurance companies look for any reason to doubt a disability claim, and your LinkedIn profile is often one of the first places they’ll check. Whether you’re actively posting or haven’t touched it in years, what’s visible online can be interpreted as evidence that you’re still capable of working—even if that’s not the case.
At Ortiz Law Firm, we help disability claimants recover their benefits by appealing claim denials. If you’re unsure whether your LinkedIn profile led to the denial of your claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation.
