I was lucky, or unlucky POV I guess, I filed by phone the first week of January this year and had a years back pay the first week of March. I never went to an SSI office or had to see "their" doctors.
I was told a few things by SSI I dealt with I found interesting.
some states have better "first time award" success rates than others. here in arkie is one of the best at 35% they said.
age and occupation also play a part.
I expected the whole thing to be a battle royal of epic proportion but it was easier than one of my union disability claims. I didn't know if I would live long enough to wade thru the SSI thing.
Sometimes it almost seems like they drag it out hoping you'll die before it gets settled.
I wish all the very best of luck.