Hi Leah,
My husband is the PWP and also diagnosed in 2005. We just returned from the disability lawyer this afternoon and next week we begin the process of filing for ssdi. He told us it can take 6 months to a year and the he receives a percentage of what my husband will receive retroactively from social security. The judge sets a cap of $5,300 as the most the attorney can get. I wanted to file myself; however, I have enough going on in my life right now and while we could surely use the money, I have decided to let the attorney process the paperwork for us. I hope it won't be $5,300!
Good Luck and welcome to this great forum, you will not find a finer group of people.

Kindly, Maureen