Work Permit for the non-EU person of an EU Citizen's Family Member

Hi to all expats in Belgium out there,

I was wondering if can be able to work in Belgium.

My partner is not a Belgian but a EU citizen and currently seeking a job in Belgium. We're thinking to relocate together in Belgium based on the durable relationship (de-facto partner| Article 47/1) once she secures full-time employment there.

We'll likely be settling in Brussels, or a nearby Flanders commune if not Brussels itself. I've done a lot of research on the official rules already, but I'd really appreciate input from people who've actually been through this process:

1. Work rights during the examination period: For the "de facto partner" (Art. 47/1) category specifically — not spouses/registered partners — does holding Annex 19ter actually grant labour market access while the application is being examined? I've found an official SPF Emploi source confirming this for Art. 40bis/40ter cases, but it's not clear whether it extends the same way to the durable-relationship category.
2. Cohabitation légale registration timeline: For mixed EU/non-EU couples specifically, how long does the commune's verification/investigation period typically take in practice before the déclaration de cohabitation légale is approved?
3. Commune-level differences in Brussels: Any experience with which of the 19 Brussels communes tend to be faster or more experienced handling EU-citizen family reunification cases? Any to specifically recommend or avoid?

Practical sequencing: Once my partner starts working, what does the realistic step-by-step timeline look like — cohabitation légale registration → application submission → Annex 19ter issuance → orange card? How long did each step actually take for you?

Any first-hand experience, even partial, would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!