Hi,

I have a lot of experience with SSDI. I was on it for about 10 years. Mine took about a year to approve, but during that year I was on SDI (California state disability) . I was approved the first time, but at that time I had been hospitalized several times, with suicide attempts. I don't even remember applying -- apparently I applied while in the hospital, with help from social workers.

From what you described of your situation, my guess is that you will almost certainly be denied. There is some possibility of winning an appeal, but probably not without a lawyer.

You definitely won't be approved initially if you are working at all, for any amount of money.

I know they *say* that you can make up to a certain amount of money, but believe me, if you work, they WILL stop your benefits after a certain amount of time. The only exception might be if your income comes from things that don't require the ability to "work" per se, like clinical trial participation. The attitude generally is that if you can to ANY kind of work, even part time, that you should not get disability.

Things may have changed since I got off SSDI in 2006 and went back to work full time, but I doubt it.

Luckily I work in a government job, with a union. They take the ADA very seriously, and cut me some slack with my illness.

All this is just my experience and opinion, of course.