The whole process can be confusing. You are correct, your husband must wait 2 years. I personally see this as adding misery to those who suffer daily. In my wife's case it took her several years to acquire SSDI. Her retro pay reached back 3.5 years and would have gone farther if it hadn't been for her short term benefits from her old employer. So, my wife already reached her 2 year waiting period sometime ago when she was approved last Nov. So it sounds like your husband was approved for SSDI very quickly.