Insurance companies don’t just take your word when you file a long-term disability claim. They want proof. That’s where surveillance comes in. They watch, track, and scrutinize every move you make, searching for anything they can use to deny or terminate your claim. From hiring private investigators to monitoring social media, insurers invest heavily in surveillance tactics to discredit claimants. If you’re receiving or applying for long-term disability benefits, understanding how and when they conduct surveillance is crucial.
What is Long Term Disability Surveillance?
Long-term disability surveillance is the process insurance companies use to observe claimants and gather evidence that could be used to deny or cut off their benefits. They justify this by saying they need to confirm that your disability prevents you from working. In reality, they are looking for ways to disprove your claim. Insurers use various tactics like physical tracking, social media monitoring, and home visits. If they can find a single moment where your actions seem to contradict your disability claim, they will use it against you. That’s why claimants must be cautious, even when doing routine activities.
Surveillance in Long Term Disability Claims
Insurance companies are for-profit companies, so they have a built-in financial motive to deny your claim. One of the tools they use to deny claims is using surveillance to decide the legitimacy of a disability claim. This leads to one of the common reasons they deny claims – they claim that the insured is faking or exaggerating their injuries.
This is why insurance companies may conduct covert surveillance to prove that your injuries are not as you claim. Below, we discuss how disability insurance investigators investigate people.
1. Physical Surveillance
Physical surveillance is when an insurance company hires a private investigator to follow you around. This person’s job is to prove that your disability is fake or exaggerated. For example, if you suffered an injury to your back and said that you cannot pick up heavy objects, this person will look for instances of you picking up or holding what they think are heavy objects. Although the investigator cannot legally go onto your property, you should expect them to linger in your neighborhood, try to look into your backyard, or follow you in public.
2. Electronic Surveillance
Electronic surveillance stems from the near ubiquitous use of social media. The insurance company will look to see if you’ve posted pictures or videos performing activities that you could not have done given the symptoms listed on your disability claim forms.
3. Field Visits
Sometimes, the insurance company will send someone to your home to conduct a “field visit.” These visits are often framed as the person following up and trying to learn more about your case. The reality? They are spies, snooping in your home and scanning for anything that will give them a justification to deny your claim.
If you told the insurance company that you cannot clean your house, and your home is neat, the insurance company may question your symptoms. If you tell them that you can’t sit for more than 15 minutes without pain, expect the interviewer to drag out the interview for 2 hours or more, then tell the insurance company that you can “comfortably sit” for 2 hours or more.
Insurance companies will look for any reason to deny your claim, even if it’s minor or outlandish. Of course, you have a right to fight back against a denial.
What Else Do Insurance Companies Do?
Surveillance is common, but an insurance company can go even further in an effort to disprove a claim. It might also:
Take video or pictures from outside of the home to use as proof against you.
Follow you in their vehicles.
Sometimes, insureds feel like their privacy has been violated and that they must act or behave a certain way. You should not stop your normal routine to prove your case. Be yourself. Continue your normal activities and follow your doctor’s advice. If your doctor advised you that you can take walks around your neighborhood, don’t let the surveillance stop you. Honesty is the best policy when filing a claim. If you’ve been truthful about your limitations, symptoms, and injury, you have nothing to hide.
When Do Insurance Companies Start Surveillance?
Surveillance can begin at any stage of your claim. Some insurance companies start monitoring claimants as soon as they file. Others wait until they see a reason to investigate such as inconsistencies in medical reports or flagged concerns during a claim review. Surveillance is also common before claim renewals, when insurers reassess whether you should continue receiving benefits. If your case is headed to court, expect even more scrutiny. Insurers will ramp up surveillance to find anything that can damage your credibility.
A common mistake claimants make is assuming that surveillance happens only for high-profile cases. That’s not true. Insurance companies conduct surveillance on everyday people, often without them knowing. They look for opportunities to argue that your condition is not as severe as you claim. If they capture a few seconds of video showing you engaging in an activity they think you shouldn’t be able to do, they will use it to question your entire claim.
How Surveillance Can Affect Your LTD Claim?
Surveillance isn’t just about watching; it’s about collecting evidence to deny your benefits. If an insurer can show footage or social media posts that contradict your stated limitations, they’ll argue that you’re exaggerating or faking your condition. This can lead to claim denials, benefit terminations, or legal battles where the burden falls on you to prove your disability.
Many claimants don’t realize how surveillance is used against them until it’s too late. For example, an insurer might see you walking your dog, lifting a grocery bag, or attending a family gathering and argue that your ability to do these things contradicts your medical condition. They ignore context. They won’t consider that you were in pain afterward or that you needed assistance. Their goal isn’t to understand your situation—it’s to find a reason to stop paying your benefits.
How to Deal with Surveillance
It’s important to do a few things that will allow you to live a life of normalcy without jeopardizing your claim:
– Don’t push yourself. You should perform any activities that your doctor has warned you against. Take it slow and set limitations. Not only can an investigator use your actions against you, but if you don’t continue in your limitations, you risk aggravating your condition and making it worse.
– Stay off social media. If you have a disability claim pending, stay off of social media or be careful what you share. You may post an innocent picture, even from weeks before your injury, and this may be used against you. Monitor your privacy settings so that the insurance company cannot get unauthorized access to your accounts.
– Contact a lawyer. Working with a lawyer that specializes in ERISA disability claims can help you make sense of the surveillance and work towards an approved claim. We are here to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the benefits that are rightfully yours.
Surveillance plays a major role in your disability claim. If you notice that the insurer has hired a private investigator, contact a lawyer and be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions rather than push your limits. If you feel unsafe, call the police immediately.
If you have questions or concerns about your long term disability claim, contact us.
FAQs
Insurance companies don’t watch every claimant all the time. But they do use surveillance when they think your claim is questionable. This usually happens when you first apply, during reviews, or before extending benefits. They may follow you for a few days, stop, then start again later to catch inconsistencies. If your disability is hard to prove, like chronic pain, they are more likely to watch you. Their goal isn’t to confirm your condition but to find reasons to deny your claim.
Insurers use a mix of direct and indirect disability surveillance tactics to track claimants. Private investigators may follow you in public, record videos, or take photos to find any movement that contradicts your disability claim. Social media is another tool they exploit. They are looking at your posts, photos, or check-ins for evidence. They also use phone calls disguised as customer service inquiries to see if your responses match your medical condition. Some even go as far as interviewing neighbors or checking security footage from nearby businesses.
A private investigator can follow you as long as it’s legal and within the boundaries of privacy laws. Generally, surveillance lasts a few days at a time, often spaced out to avoid being obvious. Investigators don’t follow claimants 24/7, but they might watch for patterns like when you leave your house or go to appointments. They usually conduct surveillance during peak hours when you’re most likely to be active. If they don’t gather enough evidence, they may return later to try again.
Yes, but not in the way people imagine. Insurance companies can’t legally place cameras inside your house, but private investigators can watch from public areas. They may park near your home, track when you leave, and record activities in your front yard, driveway, or anywhere visible from the street. If they see you carrying groceries, gardening, or walking without assistance, they might argue that your condition isn’t as severe as you claim. Even something as simple as waving to a neighbor can be misinterpreted if it serves their purpose.
If you notice a private investigator sitting in a car near your home or workplace, they’re likely waiting for an opportunity to record you. They look for moments where you appear physically active or contradict your disability claim. They may stay in one spot for hours, hoping to catch you leaving the house, running errands, or doing anything they can use against you. It’s not personal—it’s about the insurance company protecting their profits.
