A little girl born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 was given two years to live. That was back in 2013, and now she is fighting to enjoy every day of life. She has managed to learn her ABCs and 123s, but her parents have made several sacrifices to give her a good life. Despite her mother’s fulltime care, this little girl’s family still struggles with the medical expenses her condition can incur. Is there any help out there for others suffering from SMA?
Can You Get Social Security Benefits For Spinal Muscular Atrophy?
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, a person with SMA can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In order to claim SSDI benefits you must have a qualifying work history, and your condition must prevent you from working. However, after two years collecting SSDI you can enroll in Medicare! SSI is given to individuals with limited income or resources who can’t meet certain living arrangement requirements, and those who qualify for SSI are automatically enrolled in Medicaid. These medical benefits can be invaluable to anyone fighting a disease like SMA, and here is why…
What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?
SMA is a genetic disease that causes certain motor neurons in the spinal cord to not function properly. This can keep people with SMA from controlling their muscles, and it can affect their entire body. As these muscles are used less, they shrink and become smaller. Eventually this disease can render a person completely immobile.
There are four types of SMA, and they are determined by the age of onset. People with SMA Type 1 generally have severe symptoms that show up when they are a baby. However, SMA Type 4 patients often have less severe symptoms that show up in adulthood. This also means that SMA can strike all age groups, from children to adults.
Do you have more questions about SMA? You can find more information on this disease at the MDA’s website. Your Tulsa disability attorneys also want you to remember that August is SMA Awareness Month. So learn everything you can about this disease, then spread the word on Facebook and Twitter!
