Having just won my case for SSD, I can tell you it is a long road of paperwork. Be sure to get copies of all your medical records. Also keep on file for yourself a history of your work history, as what you did, and your yearly earnings. I was told I needed that information to see if I also could get SSI and Medicaid. I was told I was not able to get medicaid because I have no children & medicaid because my name is on a piece of property in another state, that is worth more than $2000. Of course that is Florida, and all states have different rules.
If you are denied, appeal that decision. Continue doing that until you get a chance for a court date. Now it is up to you, but at that point I got an attorney to handle my case. The time it took to get the court date was not the attorney's fault. the government has cut funds for the SS admin offices. That is causing the backup of cases. However, the Judge I got told me how sorry he was that I had to wait 4 years for my hearing. Some are lucky and get their court date sooner, but most have to wait a period of time.