No it's not nessary to be a permanent thing. I've read here where it's taken only like 6 months to get on it and others much longer, it depends on how well documented your history is. You got fired, spent a long time on leave for both IP and IOP had doctor documented leave from work. That is all in your favor. Seasaw was working until she got SSDI then went back to work when she was ready. There's lots of info on this in the insurance forum......I think in the work forum there's info on it too.