You might want to have your wife check into her pension benefits. My husband had to be on disability before he could start collecting them. At that point he was considered retired. Maybe she can get some answers from her HR department. Disability takes a little while but we filed the papers even before my husband went out all together. We just went in, talked to a case worker and when he was actually ready to go out, we called and activated it.

Just be sure to ask her doctors to talk to you honestly. I got way more info when I told them that I didn't want anything sugar coated. I needed to know what to plan for and even though their were unexpected issues, I feel like I was pretty prepared for the fight. Best of luck and if you need anymore info, feel free to send me a pm.

Sue

cg to husband, 48 Stage 1V head and neck SCC. First surgery 9/07. Radiation and several rounds of chemo followed. Mets to chest and lungs. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Went home to God on February 22, 2009.