I applied for SSDI in January 2011 and I received my back dated benefits on April 6, 2011. I was really amazed at how much help I received from my two caseworkers. I applied on line, brought my medical records in to the local office, filled out the forms asking questions about my ability, and went met with their psychologist and neurologist. The rig-a-ma-roll you are put through is almost more difficult than many jobs, and on top of that, you are disabled!

Now I don't need to use Food Stamps (but thank goodness for them!) and I should hear from Medi-Cal soon.

The county health care system is scheduling me for an MRI in June to determine my recovery status from the brain surgery I had in November.

I don't think it is valid to state that the disability claims processing requirements is more difficult than any job. Completion of forms, obtaining information, answering questions, supplying proofs. Some people put a couple hours of work into the process. Others may spend 10, 20, even 40-50 hours of time doing those actual actions. Not even close to the demands of doing a job day in and day out, 6-8 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, for a year or two or five or twenty.

There is the emotional aspect and the worry about not knowing the future, but once a claim is approved, you have to do almost nothing to get a check every month for as long as you are disabled. Jobs can also create same worry and stress since jobs are also not guaranteed.

But what would you substitute for completion of forms and supplying proof? I doubt you would advocate that money should be paid to anyone who says they are disabled. Surely there must be some sort of organized system with checks and balances.

Janke...every time you post to my replies you help me out by giving wonderful advise. I respect and appreciate you Janke, but I am going to slightly disagree with you on this one. I found the process of doing the paperwork and all the stuff that goes along with the ssdi process grueling. I found it to be so stressful...as stressful as when I was working...just not 40 hours a week. Being disabled is a full time job that lasts longer than 40 hours a week. It is a lifetime.
Please do not take offence to this. And forgive me if I read your email wrong. I probably read it wrong.

If you add the stress of being disabled to the stress of filing a claim, you probably do trump working 40 hours a week for many people.

Not offended. Nothing to apologize for.