Help Tams & Markham survive until SSDI approval

Hi y’all I’m tams and the handsome black Cat is Markham. In November 2021 we fled a dangerous DV situation by living in our van.

In January 2022 we filed for SSDI but were denied in July 2022. We immediately found legal representation and filed an appeal. On January 4, 2024 I was finally granted an Appeal Hearing for May 21, 2024. 

**June 2024 edit: the judge ruled that I must still go through both evaluations (psych & physical) with the government’s doctors regardless of the evidence of 3 back surgeries in 4 years (exact wording my attorney used when asking judge for clarification). So I must beg for survival each month until these appointments are scheduled and attended, then another hearing**

Dealing with bureaucratic red tape, finding new medical providers after fleeing, and recuperating from multiple surgeries while living in the van has been rough! But we are still here, thanks to the love and kindness of internet friends and mutual aid strangers. I am deeply grateful for the help.

Recently we began squatting an abandoned house in rural northern Arkansas. The property owner allows me to run 200’ of extension cords from her home’s exterior outlet. This allows me use of a full size refrigerator, and alternating between a microwave, a 2 burner hot plate, and a small rice cooker. There is no working plumbing or running water inside the house. I do have access to a spigot in the basement and use this water for washing dishes and bathing. I purchase drinking water due to the age and condition of the very old galvanized pipes. 

The **updated** goal of this campaign is based on $700 per month for another 3 months (July, August, September 2024)   

If/when the State of Arkansas grants an appeal hearing for my SNAP case (food stamps) they erroneously took away in December 2023, the survival amount needed each month will drop down to $400 (to an adjusted campaign total of $1600). 

My monthly bills, as of June 2024: 

Van insurance $102

Phone/data $125 

*Electricity $25

Prime membership $8 

Patreon $6 

Hulu $1 

Sub-total $267 

Other needs per month: 

Catfood and litter $25 

Laundromat $60 

Fuel for van $80

Sub-total $165 

These 2 sub-totals come to $432

Since I am not receiving SNAP benefits, I need additional funds for groceries. 

$300 per month

For a grand total of $732 needed to survive each month until SSDI approval. 

Thank you for reading this far. If you can spare even $5, it would mean the world to us.

Love,

tams & Markham