Hi Gina. I'm sorry things are so bad for you right now and very sorry to hear you are in a position where you must consider SSDI.

My situation is probably a little unique but hopefully my experience will be helpful for you. I worked for my employer for about 11 years before I had to go out on disability. My son has a very serious health condition and was in and out of the hospital. I've always been sickly but until my son was spending weeks and months in the hospital I never missed work. I got FMLA for the time I spent with my son in the hospital. It's been a long time now but I'm pretty sure I got paid for this through short term disability. I think there was a waiting period of about a week which was unpaid but short term disability would kick in after that and I was compensated. As time went on I became increasing sick with IBS and other painful symptoms. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I was missing more and more work which upset my co-workers and a hostile work environment resulted. I was a wreck emotionally and physically. I felt guilty for missing work but was too sick so didn't know what to do. My husbands confided to his best friend at work what was happening to me. His best friend used to work for Social Security disability processing claims and he told my husband I should apply as I certainly qualified. I told my husband there was NO WAY I would be approved as I had witnessed people being turned down for what I thought was a more legitimate reason than mine. I became increasingly sicker mentally and physically .....kept missing work and getting snide remarks from co-workers....I was in a living hell and on auto pilot. I fell into what I can only describe as a comotose type depression and my husband took it upon himself to file for SSDI for me online. His co-worker assured him I do qualify....he said that if you cannot work a 40 hour week and support yourself financially due to a medical condition, then you qualify and to get a lawyer if I'm not approved. To make a long story short, I was approved for disability about 8 months after my husband filed for it....which was a good thing since I was fired from my job about a month prior.

My advise is to keep your job if at all possible....but if you cannot, then please remind yourself that you paid into an insurance program and unfortunately need to collect. It's your money so don't feel guilty for needing it. It can be a life saver. I hope I was able to answer some of your questions. I know how terrifying it is to be in this situation and my heart goes out to you. (((Hugs)))