Well at least its not SSI which you get if you haven't been able to hold a job in the first place...at least with SSDI you do have the defense of saying you paid taxes thus paid into it I cannot say that as I am on SSI. As for convinging SSDI you are sick/disabled you have to have documentation of whatever ailments you suffer from so medical records/diagnoses and then they determine if it prevents you from working....if they deny you initially you can likely appeal the decision though in that case best to get a disability attorney at least it tends to be.

But yeah it would seem in general there is stigma towards people who need any kind of welfare and/or government funded benefit, it is unfortunate but exists none-the-less.