Tl;Dr Version: This is for me, Anthony, to raise funds for essential survival expenses such as rent, utility bills, and food, while I exercise my appeals for Federal/State disability benefit payments.
Long version details of my condition follows below.
The goal of this campaign is to provide me with funds to pay my basic essential needs such as rent, bills, food, and other necessities while I attempt to secure Federal/State disability benefits.
I was forced to leave my job of 20 years in January of 2023 due to a chronic medical condition that caused me to undergo chronic dizziness leading to fainting spells. I have been suffering these conditions for a long while, but they were especially triggered by both the physical and mental stress of my occupation (I was an overnight stocker for the Walmart megastore chain). I had been placed on paid medical leave countless times due to my condition, then I was placed on first short-term and then long-term disability (LTD) based on my job's benefit plan.
After my separation, I was dependent on my LTD plan for essential bills and expenses, and also applied for and was approved for Medicaid for prescription and doctor's care coverage. However, against the stated testimony of my personal doctor that I was not able to return to active work because my condition had not improved to that degree, the insurance company in charge of my claim cut off my LTD payments in January of 2024, using their own in-house assessment to judge me as no longer meeting their definition of "disabled". I subsequently appealed their decision through their process, but I was unsuccessful.
A condition of my LTD plan was that I had to file for Federal/State disability benefits through the Social Security Administration via their SSI and SSDI program. My initial claim for that was denied by the SSA in June of 2024 using the same logic as my insurance company that I did not fit their definition of "disabled" and could find suitable work, in spite of my doctor's testimony that my condition did not allow me that option due to fear of relapse. An appeal to an Administrative Law Judge proved unsuccessful; I am currently working with legal representation on appealing that further up the process.
I ultimately do plan on filing for early Social Security in May of 2026, which is the earliest I can qualify for such benefits. Until then, however, or the possibility that my appeals are successful and I do receive SSI/SSDI benefits, I have no income to meet my basic essential expenses; and without the ability to lean on family or friends for support, crowdfunding for mutual aid is and has been my only option for paying my bills and expenses.
I have set my monthly funding goal at $2,000 to match what I usually need for basics: $800 for rent and utilities per month, collected biweekly ($400 every 2 weeks); $200 for food; $500 for other bills; and $500 for contingencies. I live currently with my relatives and help them out with expenses in exchange for room and board.
I wish I didn't have to resort to crowdfunding, or that my condition did not prevent me from returning to work. I have to make do with what I have, though, and any means of assistance through donations to meet or exceed my goal would be graciously and highly appreciated.
Thank you all kindly for reading through this, and I hope you have the surplus means, the empathy, and the kindness to help me get through this situation as soon as humanly possible.
