Get the right medications. Work as long as you can. Save as much money as you can. Follow your psychologists suggestions to reduce the stress in your life. Maybe you could find a less stressful, lower paying job in a smaller town and could reduce your paranoia. If not, do what you have to do to simplify your life and save as much money as you can.

The vast majority of people on SSDI benefits receive substantially less income than they did when they were working - maybe $800-$1200 per month. Unless you have pensions or trust funds or substantial savings, you will not be able to sustain the lifestyle you have now. Something will have to give.

.nd the issue that needs to be decided is if you are physically and mentally able to work at a job that pays you about $1100 a month, not just whether or not you have reduced your hours voluntarily

And, there is a huge difference between SSI and SSDI (I know they look alike). SSI, Supplemental Security Income, is a means-tested, low income, welfare disability benefit, designed to keep you from starving and being homeless. It does not provide enough money for a middle income lifestyle.

You should go to socialsecurity.gov and read up on disability benefits.

But work as long as you can.

thanks. All this is confusing

You can receive temp insurance benefits for 26 weeks in NY. This generally an easy application process that requires your doc to fill out a form. (I'm more familiar with CA's plan.) only a handfull of states offer this insurance. I'm not sure of the pay rate in NY, but this might allow you to take a leave of absence to get more intensive treatment with the goal of returning to work.

http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/o...roToLaw_DB.jsp