Hi Peg, I read your message about short/long term disability, and am hoping you can answer a couple of questions for me. I have a friend who has been diagnosed with ALS in November of 2012. He is still working (barely) and trying to make a decision whether to take early retirement (will be first eligible in March 2013) or to take disability. It is his understanding that if he decides on Disability, he will need to quit work, then apply for disability through Social Security, and then be off work for 5 months until he would receive benefits. They have limited finances and don't think this is a viable option. Your post gave me hope that there may be other options. Any advice? Anything you can offer, or if you can direct me somewhere else, that would be great. Thanks so much!