tell me your experiences trying to qualify for SSDI or SSI

[radical noodle]

3. I've heard it varies from state to state for some reason

I'm not sure if that's true or not.

I think you're better off to get a lawyer experienced in SSDI. I had a friend (in Indiana) who was no longer able to work (fibromyalgia and bi-polar) and she had to fight for two years to get it. She tried first without an experienced attorney and got nowhere. Then she hired someone experienced and finally got it.

It's a terrible thing for people like her who had no means of support for those two years. Only the generosity of some of her friends got her through the two years. The good news is that, at least in her case, she got the two years back pay as well.

Others I know have waited that long as well except for a friend here in Florida who got it right away for diabetes. It may also depend on what the medical problem is.