I skipped over some posts, so I hope I don't duplicate an answer.

It dosen't always take years, though for 60% or more, it does. I know like 5 people that got it within 4 months. I got mine in 17 months.

I wish you the very best! It is hard, but hang in there!

Dear Saqraqh,
You can work and apply for disability income at the same time, in fact you can continue to work after you get SSDI. The trick is to limit your income to under $1000. The new 20210 application, available on my website, says $980but that was last year maximum SGA, substantial gainful activity.
I don't kno why everyone is saying you can't work because you can. Yoou just have to watch how much you make.
The $1000 is after dedeuctions required to work like medications, etc.
Hope that helps.
Trudi
SSDI-Help

You can work but according to my attorney at Allsup if you have certain impairments you probably do not want to do much of or any type of work that will set out a red flag when you have a review. I will not go into details but he told me that I would be better off waiting to go back to work when I am better.

Here is the answer to your question according to the SS site:

What is a Ticket?

The Ticket to Work Program is an innovative program for persons with disabilities who want to work and participate in planning their employment. A Ticket increases your available choices when obtaining employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, and other support services you may need to get or keep a job. It is a free and voluntary service. You can use the Ticket if you choose, but there is no penalty for not using it. You might not be subject to a continuing disability review while you are using your Ticket.
Where can you use a Ticket?

This program is available in all 50 states and 10 United States Territories. Many SSDI and SSI disability beneficiaries will receive a “Ticket” they can use to obtain services from a state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency or another approved provider of their choice. We call these approved providers “Employment Networks”. Employment Networks (ENs) are private organizations or government agencies that have agreed to work with Social Security to provide employment services to beneficiaries with disabilities. The EN you choose will help you activate your Ticket.
Where can you get
more information?

For more information on Ticket to Work, including a list of approved Employment Networks, contact the SSA Ticket Program Operations Support Manager, MAXIMUS, at their toll free numbers: 1-866-YOURTICKET (1-866-968-7842) or for TTY/TDD call 1-866-833-2967 between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time (Monday through Friday).

Information about the Ticket to Work Program can be found online at
www.ssa.gov/work/aboutticket.html or www.yourtickettowork.com.

The info about the Ticket to Work Program pertains to those who have already been granted SSDI and later feel able to attempt to return to work. It does not pertain to your situation at all Sabimax.

As others have written, it is legally possible to be working part time because of your disability and (in theory) get approved if you can only make less than $1050 per month, but it is extremely difficult to get approved while working. Trust all of us, it's hard enough for most of us to prove we can't work at all even with our doctor's support.....Can you imagine how difficult it would be to prove that you can (I'm just making up an example here) work 4 hours per day (earning $1000 per month), but there is absolutely no physical way that you could work 4.5 hours per day (which would put you over the 1050 limit) ?

Because of how long the approval process can take, it may well mean that you and/or your family gets into dire financial straights while waiting to be approved.

The best advice I can give is that if there is any way that you can push yourself to work for another month or another year.....that's what you should do.....and try to bank as much of it as possible. When you cannot get yourself to work or through another work day....that's when you ask foe leave and apply for ssdi.

Are your doctors willing to document that they consider you totally disabled now ?

I wish you luck through all of this. :hug: