Hi, I'm around your age and I just got approved for SSI, first time. I said I was disabled since last December, my most recent hospitalization, although I didn't start my application till April. There was no reason for me to wait, nor is there for you. I think I too didn't want to see myself as "disabled," especially for ZOMGTHERESTOFMYLIFE. But the truth is, I can't work right now. I plan on working in the future, though, once I am more stable. Although my condition is different from yours (I have bipolar), I think that you too have a hope of treatment that will eventually allow you to work. In the meantime though, please try to look on disability benefits as a help in time of need and not a source of shame. I struggled with that too, but I find that my current attitude of "this will help me through until I am well enough to not need this" is much healthier. And no matter what the doctors may say now, we are far too young and the future is far too unpredictable to say that anything is "for life". Perhaps I'm just wearing my rosy shades, but I think the next 10-15 years will be huge in medical discoveries the likes of which were only discussed in sci-fi books. I mean, they are actually creating nanobots that can carry out a specific function at a cellular level, which combined with genome research, means that ZOMG a little nanomachine could change the genes in my DNA that make me so bipolary. They are actually trying to grow specific organs from your own body tissue!...But I'm getting off topic....

Anyway, on to the practical questions you asked:

You sound like you have a more than decent plan. Please believe in your case so that SSA can too! I struggled with this before applying, but once I did apply, I went all in. I see that you're waffling on the "disabled" question, but you have to remember that disability benefits are not only for people who are permanently disabled. You must be expected to be disabled for a minimum of one year. Since you have already been unable to work for a year, I think your case is strong in that regard. The doctors don't need to say you are "permanently" disabled--my psychiatrist certainly did not say that. However, if you are expected to be disabled for a considerable length of time, e.g. not just for a few months because of a broken arm, then by all means, you are a candidate for benefits and should apply. If for any reason you don't need the benefits anymore because you can work, then as you said, you can always withdraw your application or stop the benefits.

I applied in person at my local office and I went in only planning to apply for SSI. However, the guy also automatically considered me for SSDI even though I knew I wouldn't qualify (I didn't), so I think that is standard process to apply for both. I had to wait in the waiting room for quite a bit, maybe 30-40 minutes, even though I had an appointment. Once I was called in, I sat across the table from the aforementioned guy and answered some questions about my work history and my current available income/resources. I also told him about my diagnoses and whatever medication I was taking. I don't know why they bother asking all these questions at the interview because I had to answer them all over again when I got the written forms a couple weeks later. In fact, I was kind of worried that the guy wasn't writing down my work history correctly. This all took another 40-50 minutes. I think it will be helpful if you write down in advance the dates and businesses you worked at, and the positions you held. Also, having a list of all the doctors/hospitals/medications over the years will be really helpful. I didn't have much by way of medical records, and what I did have, the guy said was too old because he only wanted records from the last two years. Later however, I found out that they wanted any and all records from the last 5-6 years, so just bring everything you have. It's really helpful, but not necessary at this stage because they will formally request records.

In total, I'd say budget at least two hours that you will have to sit. You should not have to stand unless they don't have chairs in the waiting room, but times are not that tough. Whoever is going to interview you should be accommodating if you need to change positions. You should probably let them know early on. Also, it might be helpful to have someone go with you and wait in the waiting room, but if you must go by yourself, I would even let someone know while I wait that I have pain which necessitates changing positions, etc. They all seemed to be nice folk, if a little harried.

Good luck! I was a little nervous about it, but it was no big deal.