Tracy,

In many states, when you are collecting unemployment it is with the understanding that you are actively looking for a job and ready/willing/able to work. Unemployment checks are just supposed to tide you over until you find work.

That can be viewed as a conflict with applying for disability because you cannot work.

Starting over with a new SSDI application does mean that you would lose backpay for the period covered by the change in dates of disability, but any info about actively looking for work or being able to work in your previous records would affect your ability to get approved for disability for the original date. If your condition is worse now, a new application date makes sense.