you file an application either online or through your nearest local Social security office. on your application you will have to list all your treatment providers, mental and medical problems and any treatments you are on and sign the release form giving social security permission to contact your treatment providers. sometimes they give you the doctors forms when you go in to file the application with your local social security office or send them to you or your treatment provider if doing the application process online.

then days to months later you receive a notice in the mail if they need more information and they would like you to see the treatment providers in the letter. the treatment providers they ask you to see are familiar with the SSDI process and specialize in what ever mental and physical health problems you placed in your application. for example you state your problem that prevents you from working is bipolar disorder. the specialist that social security asks you to go see is a psychiatrist who specializes in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder

then after seeing the specialists (if that is needed) you wait again days, months and sometimes years while your application is processed, treatment providers are contacted and social security receives their information from your mental and physical health records and any specialists you saw send their reports to social security.

then one day in the mail you receive either an acceptance award letter saying you are now on SSDI or you receive a denial letter stating you did not get SSI/SSDI and why and information on how to appeal that decision.

yes you can refuse to give them permission for access to your doctors and medical \ mental health records and refuse to see what specialists they want you to go see, but with no actual documentation by treatment providers about you having bipolar so severe it prevents you from working social security will have no choice but to deny your application.

the best thing to do is give then all the information first time around that they need in order to have the process go in your favor.. the appeal process is extremely long and involves going to court in most cases to prove you are so disabled by your bipolar that you can not work,

after you are awarded a SSDI grant you continue to work with your treatment providers and continue to take care of your self secure in knowing once a month you receive an income (dont expect mega bucks. living on SSI\SSDI is poverty level/ minimum wage type of income), you will need to learn how to live on a strict budge so that you have enough money to make it month to month. SSI\SSDI also comes with foodstamps and state medical insurance plan (medicaid or medicare ) you may be asked to pay a co pay on any doctor appointments including things like meds therapy and any thing else medical/ mental that you may need. you pay the co pay by using some of your cash part of your SSI/SSDI money you get every month.

those that I know on SSI/SSDI say its not an easy or fun way to live sometimes they have to choose between getting that new coat, or new jeans or getting the medication that their states medical insurance does not pay for. going to a movie or getting more groceries because the food stamps didnt cover the special diet the doctor has the person on. eating in because of not enough money to eat out...