Well, I'm finally going to walk into the Social Security Office and apply for SSDI. I'm living on temp jobs, food stamps, and section 8 housing.

What I know already:

Expect to be denied benefits...several times
Expect the approval process to take a long time

What I need to know:
How long does the process really take? I've heard people being approved within 2-3 months to 7 years (after several appeals of course). I am just trying to get an average.

Also, I have worked so many jobs (I'm 46) that I can't remember them all. Where can I get a list of my past employers and if such a list exists, will it cost me anything to get a copy of it?

And finally, if anyone has any advise for me while I go through this process, I surely would appreciate it.