If you need and qualify for disability now then you should try for it IMO. I have been disabled for since Feb 2000 and it has only been in the last year that I have aspired to work again as my condition improves. My doc still says it's too soon but I am feeling resilient now and hope my condition will continue to improve. I know I probably will never work as a critical care nurse with patient's lives at stake again but I can teach and have good writing skills and hope to write some journal articles for publication. I am allowed to make up to $800 per month before that would cut into my disabiity income and I get to keep my insurance as long as I am considered disabled.

Consider where you are now and your present functional level and worry about returning to work when/if you feel improved.

A bit of trivia: only 5% of those disabled for more than 2 years return to work. I hope I can be in that minority but if not I will find something useful to improve the world even if it's just volunteering at the animal shelter.