Special Needs or Supplemental Trusts
Should your child require governmental assistance, a special needs trust can provide an invaluable tool for monitoring the money they receive through such a program.Unless the trust your attorney prepares for your child is designed for your child’s specific needs, it could possibly make your child ineligible to receive governmental benefits.. A Special Needs Trust is designed to manage resources while maintaining the individual’s eligibility for government benefits. Planning is important because many adults with disabilities will rely on government benefits for support. If the disabled person has assets in their own name (the current limit is $2,000), they might lose eligibility.Medicaid, and other public benefits programs, will not pay for everything your child might need. A Special Needs Trust can pay for items not provided by government assistance or other resources – including extra medical and dental expenses, annual check-ups, necessary or desirable equipment (including a wheelchair, bed, or specially-equipped van), insurance, training and education, social activities, and special foods.Unfortunately, some Special Needs Trusts are not customized to the needs of the particular child and do not “fit” the child’s needs. Thus, the child might not receive the support and benefits the parent wanted the Special Needs Trust to provide. For example, children who are high functioning and active in their communities can benefit from a Special Needs Trust that is carefully tailored to provide adequate resources to support their social lives.
Does your child have significant medical concerns? Should the trust allow for birthday gifts for other family members? What about travel expenses to visit loved ones? Do you have a preferred living arrangement for your child? Your child’s Special Needs Trust should address all these issues and more.
Many Special Needs Trusts mistakenly include a “pay-back” provision. This could prevent the remainder of the trust from going to someone else in the event the child with special needs dies. If a “pay-back” provision is included unnecessarily, Medicaid will receive the remainder (up to the amount of benefits provided) in the trust upon the death of the beneficiary. While necessary in various kinds of special needs trusts, you require an attorney who understands the nuances to save you and your family money. Special Needs Trust will help you avoid one of the most common mistakes parents make. Although many people with disabilities are dependent on programs such as SSI or Medicaid, you may also receive advice to disinherit your child with these disabilities in order to ensure the child receives the public benefits. If your child receives public benefits but no additional financial support, it is likely that your child’s standard of living will be only at a subsistence level. If your other children are adults, financially stable, and have plenty of money, disinheriting your child with special needs might work in the short term.
In all other cases, disinheriting your child with special needs is a mistake! It is not a solution that will protect your child after you and your spouse are gone. The money given to siblings can easily be spent down or lost in a lawsuit or divorce. What if your child with the money is in a marriage that ends in divorce? This could result in the child’s spouse receiving half of that money in the trust. Will his or her heirs care for your child with special needs?
Instead of disinheriting your child, a Special Needs Trust allows you to provide your child with assistance and support after you are incapacitated or gone.
“Dede set up a very well thought out family trust for me and advised that I also establish a special needs trust for a certain circumstance in my family. She was supportive and easy to talk to, offering clear guidance and examples of how she had resolved several of my issues in previous situations. While in the process I decided to hire Dede to also set up a family trust for another family member with some special circumstances. Dede instilled confidence that we were all getting the best possible advice and service and I have already recommended her to two others. She made a daunting undertaking very user-friendly and I couldn’t be more pleased with having hired her.” Posted by Barbara
“Dede was extremely helpful in helping me through this difficult process. She explained things in an easy to understand manner. Her staff are quick and efficient. They respond to you in a very timely manner. Her fee was very reasonable compared to others in the area. No hidden charges. I would not hesitate to recommend her to others for estate planning, especially those with special needs children. It has taken a great burden off of me to have this done. Thank you”. Posted by Claudia
We’d love to walk you through this process. Contact us today!
