Anyone can do it online; just go to ssi.gov and there's an application.You don't have to have been out of work any given time. The number of quarters you've worked will determine if you're applying for SSI or SSDI. If it is SSDI the amount you've earned will determine what you make; if SSI everyone on it gets the same amount.

To fill out the form you just have to focus on making sure you aren't trying to point out what you do well and instead explain that ________ is something you can do but only with extreme difficulty because ________ and you handle that difficulty by _____. Don't talk about what you can do without talking about how hard it is (If it is, of course; don't lie or they'll figure that out at some point) and emphasize what you can't do.

When I was approved very quickly (11 weeks) they told me that there is a computer analysis of each application and if the initial stuff submitted shows there is no way the person will be denied they stop and award without doing the entire review. Of course not everyone who is at the same level of illness will get it this way and sometimes people who are less ill will. I'm sure it helped me that I'd had 2 hospitalization in the preceding 6 months, one of them for suicidal intent.

When I applied I figured that it wouldn't hurt to try applying myself and if I was denied initially I'd go to an attorney but if I was approved I'd have saved myself a fee. It worked out.