Catch, I went on SSDI when I gave up work.

I was struggling trying to remember things and had been thinking about changing jobs, but then I was told I needed major bowel surgery (a hemicolectomy).

That unexpected surgery really was the last straw job-wise, and helped me decide my future rather quickly. With MS related memory problems and lots of post-operative complications that went on for many months, I really didn't even consider going back to work.

I applied for disability and was approved immediately. I know I was lucky there, infact I've not heard of anyone else being fast tracked like I was. I put in my initial paperwork, was interviewed and approved in under a month, but please remember I don't live in the USA, and things are done differently here.