The wait time for a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) award varies from a few months to a few years, depending on the type of disability and where the applicant lives.  Little is known about how applicants fund consumption during this period.  Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) linked to the Social Security Administration’s 831 file, this paper examines the evolution of income, income sources, and assets among individuals waiting for SSDI.  Further, it will assess changes in income sources, such as spousal earnings, government programs, means-tested programs, or family transfers, during the waiting period.  This project also will examine if the coping strategies have changed over time, with the duration of the waiting period, or with deviations from the expected wait time.  The results will shed light on the financial burdens faced by applicants during the waiting period and how much interim support is provided by other governmental programs, which will help in evaluating proposals to reduce SSDI waiting times.