If you get disability, how long did it take?

I can finally answer the question based on experience.
According to SSA I applied in September 2011 although the judge concluded I was actually disabled from 2008. I had a hearing with that judge in spring of this year... sorry but I'm not good with dates... so lets say March 2014. I got a letter of fully favorable decision last week. I got a notice of award letter yesterday. I will get a small monthly payment beginning in late August. I'll let you do the math but the amount of time between filing date and receiving an SSDI payment looks like 3 years to me

Yeah, I will. Today though my ptsd is acting up, so I'll wait until I'm calmer...

Well I'm still waiting....

it took me 2 1/2 months. no lawyer. first time.

i have schizoaffective/schizophrenia.

i live in texas.

7 months

It took my 2 months. But I was hospitalized so many times during that application period that I think it accelerated the process. I live in PA and things seem to go faster here anyways.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm still waiting for a hearing...

5 months on the first try. I was hospitalized for 2 of the 5 months, and didn't even have a hearing. Maybe they figured I was inaccessible because I was in a locked ward for so long?

It took me 3 months. I used a law firm to collect my medical records and forward them to the SSA. But I did the main paperwork myself. By that I mean the 13 page thing about daily living routines and job history. Before doing it, I watched lawyer sponsored videos on youtube and read lots of stuff on-line about what they go by in reviewing the info you provide. That made all the difference. I made mine real detailed and was not shy about sharing unflattering info about myself.

I think my case is atypical but I got mine in 2-3 months and they paid me for 2 years backward to compensate, which I've never heard of and didn't expect. I didn't use a lawyer, but I did have a very good shrink and someone who knew me for a long time also write on my behalf.

I think what happened was that there was such an obvious and huge discrepancy between the level of functioning prior before and after becoming ill that it was overwhelmingly obvious that something was terribly wrong. I had to resign as a professor at a major university. My case was probably also helped by the fact that I continued to try to find work, but never managed to be able to function well enough to sustain it for more than a few months. I did have hospitalizations as well. Though my illness is primarily PTSD, which you would think would not qualify as that serious or permanent, my case was severe enough that I got permanent disability.

Go to SSDfacts.com

It's a great forum for people who are trying to get approved. Bunches of useful info that could save you a bunch of time.

Oh, and Good Luck!

Thanks everyone, still waiting for a hearing...Just got out of the hospital from a bad mania, need to let them know...

So I have a hearing in January or February. Finally....Ugh.

So I have a hearing February 20th. Finally, just talked to my lawyers assistant and she ssaid they wouldn't have taken my case if they didn't think I'd win. So it looks promising...