Mariam Sanu

After years of navigating serious health challenges alongside unstable housing and financial hardship, 34-year-old Mariam Sanu* nearly gave up after her applications for Social Security disability benefits were denied twice. Her next step was to find support, and with the help of Legal Aid DC she was connected to pro bono attorneys at Vinson & Elkins. Together they fought back — digging up medical evidence showing the severity of Ms. Sanu’s conditions. In August 2024, a judge ruled in her favor, granting both Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits along with two years of back pay. For Ms. Sanu, the outcome was life-changing — allowing her to regain stability and focus on her health. “I definitely would not have been able to receive my benefits without legal help,” she said. 

Read Ms. Sanu's full story here