Howard Kammerer VA Appeal Pending Unable to Work

12/16/2023

Thought it was time to update my story since it's been a couple of years (and I still have a hard time believing it's been so long). A couple of things have changed since my last update, in that I did get approved for 50% disability through the VA, so that brings in a little over $1000 a month, but it's not enough to cover my monthly rent, and I can't depend on my Patreon to provide the needed income.

I've been working with an Attorney in New Jersey that specializes in VA Disability, and we've submitted the appeal to get me up to 100%, it's still in the 'docketed' status, which means it's still being reviewed, and it has been for a few months now. I haven't been notified that the appeal was denied, so that's a good start.

So what I'm hoping is to bring in an additional $250 a week or so to cover the rest of the rent, as well as groceries and other living expenses.

Even if you aren't able to donate right now, if you could share this with your social media and your Patreon (if you have one) it would be a huge help in getting fresh eyes on the campaign.

Thanks again, and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Whatever you Celebrate!

10/15/2021

It's been just over a year since I updated my situation, so I wanted to let you know what is going on. I'm still not able to find work, and my unemployment and food stamps (EBT) are just a memory at this point. So I'm even more grateful to those of you who have donated, several of you multiple times, to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly! It's greatly appreciated.

One bright spot is that a few months ago I was approved for medical benefits through the Veterans Administration, so I'm getting treatment for my high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and anxiety, so that's a big help!

Unfortunately, even with the depression medications, I'm still unable to write, which was another source of income, adding to my stress GRRR!

I've also filed a Disability Claim with the VA, and now I'm just waiting for a decision.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to get around $350 to $400 per week to cover my weekly rent of $275, plus groceries and other expenses.

If you aren't able to donate, I would really appreciate it if you would share this with your social media contacts.

Thanks for all your help

Howard/Red

10/8/2020

Hey there, it's been awhile, hasn't it? I want to start off by saying thank you to all of you who have been so generous over the last several months to help keep a roof over my head and other expenses paid. I'm still receiving unemployment benefits, which were a big help when the federal and state money was included, but now I'm only receiving $108.00 per week, which doesn't cover my weekly rent, let alone any other expenses.

Anyway, I'm still searching for work and getting a little bit of interest, but unfortunately, because I'm staying in a long-term residence hotel I'm not able to work remotely. The jobs that I qualify for have a requirement that the training is done at home, due to social distancing, and until the COVID-19 crisis is over, they will not be doing on-site training.

Also, because I had to turn my vehicle in to Lyft, I'm no longer able to earn money that way. I do intend, once I get an actual job, to save up and get a vehicle of my own, but that is a long way down the road. In the meantime, I have to be a passenger, which is a strange experience for me.

To get to the point, I'm reaching out to ask for your help in covering my rent. My weekly rent is $275.00, and I'm hoping to get close to $400 a week to cover my other expenses. Fortunately, I was able to reactivate my food stamps, so I do have groceries covered, but still, need to purchase non-food items.

If there is anything you can do to help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Howard/Red

Update: 3/13/2020

I think I must have kicked a litter of black cat's through a dozen mirrors! At least that's the way it seems lately. I'm still searching for a job that has an actual paycheck (and medical benefits - been 2 1/2 years without insurance - yikes!) but I'm getting freaking nowhere!

Anyway, I thought that things were getting better, the last weeks of February were pretty productive, so I thought that the winter lull was over, but then, if you watched the news, you saw how Nashville got hammered by the Tornado in early March. Fortunately, I wasn't injured, but the entire week was a washout as far as earning anything because people were more interested in clearing up the mess and trying to get their lives together.

And then we (the whole country really, but Nashville as well) get kicked in you know what's by the Coronavirus, and everything has ground to a halt, people are staying home and there are no rides to be found!

I'm trying to get enough help to keep paying my living expenses (rent, food, gas, etc) so I can keep pushing through this, and maybe even get to earn enough to save up for a down payment on a car of my own. A pipe dream, maybe, but I have to make some kind of change and hope it goes better than the last time I tried.

Anyway, even if you aren't able to donate, if you can share this with your social media it would be appreciated.

Howard/red

Story Update: 7/15/2019

Hello everybody. I've finally reached the point where I've got to make a change, and what I'm going to do is see about getting another car at one of the Buy Here, Pay Here lots here in Nashville. It would allow me to get paid on a daily basis so I'm not having to beg for assistance in covering rent because the car hasn't been paid for.

The issue is, I'm going to need help getting to the point where I can make the down payment for the car and insurance. I'm reaching out to all of you to help me get the $1,500 I would need to get out from under the car rental. It's a big chunk, but once it's done, the pressure will be removed so I can start digging my way out of the hole I'm in.

So if you can help me with this, you won't have to see me blowing up your mailbox every day or so!

Thanks

Howard/Red

Go Fund Me Story Update 11/15/2018

Hello again, I'm sorry to keep showing up like this, but things are getting desperate.

As you know, I was able to get a rental vehicle to allow me to drive for Lyft and earn a living, but unfortunately it's not working out anywhere near as well as I'd hoped. The costs of keeping the car on the road are far more with this vehicle than they were with my original vehicle, and having to pay the weekly rental means that I'm falling further and further behind.

I've been exploring other means of bringing in money with my writing, and it has helped but I'm in a very tight situation now and need as much help as I can get, both to get me through the immediate need (approximately $400) and then to get my engine either repaired or replaced so I can turn the rental car back in and stop having to pay $235 a week out of my earnings.

I know it's the holiday season, but anything you can do to help get through the immediate crunch would be greatly appreciated!

By the way, if you are interested in supporting my writing and don't mind adult material, you can support my Patreon

Thanks again

Howard/Red

Hey Brothers (and SIsters) Can you Spare A Few Bucks?

August 8th, 2018

Hello Everybody:

First off all, I want to thank everyone who so generously donated to help me get back on the road and get back to work. Now, because of some unexpected expenses, I'm finding myself in a short term bind. After taking care of my rent I don't have enough money to take car of needed expenses such as food and fuel for the car to keep me driving and earning.

I'll admit, it's embarrassing to have to admit that I've gotten myself into this situation, but I've run out of options and I'm hoping you can spare a couple of bucks to help get me through the next week or so until I can get back into a better position.

Thanks

Howard

Help Howard Kammerer Get His Car Repaired

NOTE: The date the GoFundMe was created shows 2015, because I have requested assistance in the past. In 2015 it was for medical issues and my disability wasn't approved. This request was started today, March 15, 2018

UPDATE: 4/25/2018

Well, it appears I spoke too soon. I was able to put the deposit down on a rental car that would allow me to start driving again, as well as covering next weeks rent. Unfortunately, I got a text message from Lyft late Monday afternoon that there were no vehicles available at this time, and canceled my reservation. They kept the deposit so that I will get a vehicle and be able to work, it's just a matter of when.

That's why I've raised the goal for my campaign to $5550, an additional $550 to cover an additional week of rent ($275) as well as money to cover my bills ($115), with the rest going to groceries and other needed items.

So please, if you can help I would greatly appreciate anything you can do.

Howard/Red

April 1st, 2018

Good Afternoon and Happy Easter (to those who celebrate it)

Just wanted to let you know that I've lowered my goal for the campaign, because I have a lead on a possible way to get a vehicle through Lyft that will allow me to get back on the road and earning income.

Unfortunately, there is a refundable deposit or $250 required, and I am hoping that you will be willing to donate to help me reach the deposit as well as take care of normal expenses until I'm able to drive again.

So, please, if you can, even a $5 or $10 donation will help get me closer to being on the road again!

And if you can please share this with your social media contacts I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank You

Hey Everybody:

My name is Howard Kammerer, or, if you know me on line, Red Jacobson, and I'm reaching out for your help. My car is my sole source of income, since I'm a full time driver for Lyft, and, according to the mechanic I took the vehicle to, it's going to need the engine replaced.

I'm also planning to bite the bullet and start looking for a full time hourly job as well, so I don't have to depend strictly on my vehicle for a way to earn a living.

The Backstory

I've been driving with Lyft for about 2 ½ years, and my car has been completely dependable. I've had to replace the brakes and tires of course, but that's what happens when spend your time on the road.

Anyway, I was driving this past Saturday morning, and as I was pulling in to a gas station, the oil light came on. I knew it was close to the time for an oil change, so I went and put 4 quarts in. When I started the car and drove off, the Service Engine Soon light came on,and the oil light stayed on.

Needless to say, I started getting concerned. I headed to the closest Oil Change shop to see if an oil change would fix the problem, as well as getting a code reading on the Service Engine Soon light. The technician reset the oil light, and said that the code reflected a minor issue with the engine timing. Absolutely no sense of urgency whatsoever.

After paying for the change, I started the car, and saw that the oil light had come on again. I questioned the technician and was told that it was possibly tied in with the timing issue. I pulled out of the parking lot and immediately got a ride request, so I drove a few blocks to the passengers location and picked them up.

The passenger was just going about five miles down the road, and we drove for around 3 miles, less than 5 minutes, when the sound of shaking and squealing came from under the hood. I nursed the car to the side of the road and attempted to restart the engine. I was able to go about 200 feet when the car died again.

I ended the passenger ride and had them contact another ride to get to their destination while I waited for a tow truck to take me to Firestone, which was the closest repair facility. They told me that they would run a diagnostic when their master tech got back in from a holiday. It was only going to be two days, so I was willing to wait.

I get the call this afternoon and I was informed that Firestone doesn't have the ability to repair the car, and recommended that I take it to an engine repair shop or the dealership.

I'm waiting to hear back from the dealership on the cost of replacement as of now.

I've also contacted the corporate office of the Oil Change company. I'm deliberately not naming them because I don't want to give the impression that it's their fault, when I don't know that it is. The company contacted me very politely and I provided them the information I got from Firestone.

In the meantime, I have no income and need to, not only get my car back on the road, but pay my rent, as well as pay my bills, and buy groceries and other needed items.

Estimated Costs

Engine Replacement: $5,000 approximately

Monthly Rent $1200

Bills: $350 approximately

Monthly Medications: $40

Groceries and other necessities: $400 approximately

So my monthly living expenses, outside of the cost of the vehicle repair, are $2000.00.

I'm requesting help for the next three months of expenses because I'm not certain how long it will take for me to be able to raise the money to repair/replace my engine and get back on the road.

How You Can Help

So, anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.

Even if you can't donate, if you can share this on your Facebook or other Social Media pages would be fantastic!

My family is doing what they can to help, but I don't want to cause them difficulties, as I'm sure you can understand.

Note on the Reward Levels: I wish that I had the ability to offer tangible Rewards, but these are the best I can do for now.