Sit down with someone if you decide to apply...They will try to get you in with both SSI and SSDI that is what happened with me, and I'm not sure if it was because I was a mom or what anyway. There are people that got approved on the first application, you never know it might happen for you as well. It happened for me, I don't know that I can attributed that to anything other than I got lucky. Go for a lawyer right away it is a painful process hopefully you can maintain until approved with family significant other financially. With me in my experience there are hard to get information out of SSA, because if you have problems with understanding(uncooperative system etc) they withhold information it's kinda not cool to have smart ones out front cause they will say a few words to have those ones significantly distressed out front to where you will never seem like you got the most thorough amount of information. Work at your own risk while there is an application, relay on lawyers to guide you. You can work while there is an application, but they can use work to support a denial....It is very tedious, so just make sure you got good friendly lawyers to help you or a family representative. I'm not sure what your dx just speaking our experience.