I write this simultaneously with great fear and optimism.
Hello again everyone, I'm posting what I hope to be my second to last update to my GoFundMe page.
Before I go into details for what's coming and when, I want to say thank you so much for helping me through these last 14 months. I don't know what I'll do if my case is denied, but I'm also keenly aware of how helpful you all have been to this point, keeping me in my home with bills paid and food on the table. You all have been one prayer after another answered.
I anticipate that my benefits would begin around July if the approval comes before June 1st, and that's my optimistic hope seeing that that date is more than 50 days after my hearing.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-john-mckusick-overcome-health-and-financial-struggles
After what will be almost three years of waiting, I will state the following for better or worse.
This is the point where my attorney predicted our greatest likelihood for success and his twenty plus years of experience gives me some comfort in trusting his judgement.
If the appeal is denied, I will honestly say that I won't be able to handle that well and I'm not sure how I'd proceed, but please know I know that this was intended to be a bridge to my SSDI, not an everlasting road to nowhere.
Your help has been a literal lifesaver from day one back in December of 2023, and my gratitude overwhelms me to this day, as I continue to live the miracles you all have provided me.
I am 19 days from my first anniversary as a member of the Zipper Club, (Quadruple bypass survivor) and that's why I credit each of you with saving my life every day. I tear up as I consider what the alternatives would have been. Homelessness and likely death.
I ask for your help to get through these next few months, with my usual caveat that if you want to make your donation a loan, please let me know via email.
I've adjusted the goal to reflect what it will take to get through June of this year, and please know that I have changed the goal for the last time.
Based on my expenses of roughly $1200 per month, my target won't change.
Below is a copy from my SS account with my hearing details.
Your Benefit Applications
Disability Benefits Hearing
We started step 3 of 5 of the review process for your appeal.
You are scheduled to appear by audio, using a telephone, at a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on April 9, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. CT. The hearing office mailed you a notice with detailed information about your scheduled hearing.
Your Benefit Applications
Disability Benefits Hearing
We started step 3 of 5 of the review process for your appeal.
You are scheduled to appear by audio, using a telephone, at a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on April 9, 2026, at 10:15 a.m. CT. The hearing office mailed you a notice with detailed information about your scheduled hearing.
Show Disability Benefits appeal details.
My appeal hearing is scheduled for April 9th at 10:15am via telephone call.
I am so looking forward to this opportunity to get this resolved as the denials just haven't made sense thus far.
My attorney has pointed to this event as our best likelyhood for a positive outcome, as we're dealing with what my attorney calls a very fair judge, and the opportunity to be heard regarding all the limitations my condition presents on a day in day out basis.
The way this goes basically involves the hearing, testimony under oath from me, doctors and any witnesses that are called plus the full medical record of course.
The standard timeframe for a decision by the judge is approximately 30-45 days and then the following month once a decision in my favor is made.
There are some delays involved with a waiting period as long as mine for back pay, but it shouldn't be terribly long.
The new photo is Shadow, the Love Cat lol. I rescued her from the woods near my house just after Thanksgiving if my memory serves correctly, shortly after my friend Rory passed away.
I really want to express my gratitude to all of you for the help you've given, and ask humbly that you help me get through what I expect to be the last leg of this crazy journey that you've so generously shared with me.
Thank you again for making my situation important enough for you to choose to stand with me, now it's just getting over the finish line.
God Bless each and every one of you for those miracles that you've manifested.
Love, John Mckusick 
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