She told me that in the area I live in the wait for a hearing date is some 400 days out. My State DI runs out in November. That will leave me with a rather large gap of no income. I have no choice but to return to work, this time at a lesser paying, less stressful position.

Which, as I understand it, is exactly how DI works. First you prove you can't do your "usual" job. Then you have to fail at subsequent attempts to stay employed. Each time taking a lower paying, less skilled position. By the time you are unable to hold the job as Walmart Greeter, you will be granted SSDI.

Then you will receive something like 63% of your last 18 months' earnings (% and time is my vague memory, don't quote me). So, if your last job was Walmart Greeter you're probably making minimum wage, which today is about $8.50. You might only work part time, say 20 hours a week. You don't have to do the math to know you won't be living in the way you are accustomed.