Hi Carrie! Just wanted to say that I sooooo hope this finds you well and having gone through surgery with no complications! Dr. Hajduczek is a great surgeon (was my surgeon too :) and Coastal Center is just awesome! For the SSI, actually, to be eligible for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), both issues through the Social Security office, one needs to have a disability to prohibits work for a minimum of 1 year. The nurse was probably thinking of SDI (State Disability Insurance) which is a short-term disability and you would apply for this through your employer or the State of CA. If you are an employee of the State of CA, then you would not be eligible for SDI but could apply for what's called NDI (pays next to nothing).
Sure hope this helps and if I can be of help to you in any way, please don't hesitate to email me! Hope to see you at an upcoming Monday night meeting soon!
Hugs :)
Caroline