You have to be 100% disabled to get disability. typically your Long term disabilty insurance will go the same way Social Security goes.. You can only apply for Social security diability 6 mos after you stop working. It is between a rock and a hard place. If you quit working and are denied at the end of 6 months it create quite a bind. You can appeal the decision and I was told that 60% get it the second time. But if you don't make it you have to go back to work.