Although we have discussed how and why you need to create a special needs trust, it is essential to distinguish between a self-settled trust and a third-party one. Self-settled trusts can be particularly confusing because they are also referred to as first-party...
Special Needs Trusts
What can a special needs trust cover without hurting SSI?
One of the most important reasons to create a special needs trust for your child is to ensure that his or her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits remain protected. In the event that your child receives a large inheritance, this can disqualify them from SSI. In...
Do special needs adults need guardians?
Special needs adults may need help in some areas. While you may plan on assisting your child, someone else may need to fill this role if something happens to you. You may want to consider appointing a guardian. According to the Georgia Council on Developmental...
I have a special needs child: how do I split my estate?
Planning for the future of your children can seem complicated enough, but it can be even harder when you have a special needs child. You may have decided to create a special needs trust to provide for your loved one. In the process, you should also figure out how to...
Ensuring your loved one with special needs retains SSI
If you have a loved one with special needs, no doubt you are very concerned about their lifestyle after you die. Providing for loved ones who cannot care for themselves and rely on Medicaid to get the care they need can be very stressful. This is why a special needs...
When you need a special needs trust
In today’s blog post, we’re taking a look at how parents of children with special needs can plan for the future and avoid stressful situations. Every person with special needs faces a different situation, but we’ve often worked with families of special needs people...
Family support or residential care for special needs adults?
A big part of your role as the parent or caregiver for a special needs adult involves making important decisions on behalf of your special needs child, regardless of how old they now are. One of the most difficult realities for parents of special needs children is the...
How to estimate the costs of care for a special needs adult
Having a child or grandchild with special needs means that you have to plan for their future in a way that most parents never do. In many cases, you can anticipate that the special needs individual in your family will outlive you, which means they will have a need for...
Naming the right person as trustee for a special needs trust
The creation of a special needs trust is one of the simplest and most secure methods for family members to provide for someone they love who struggles with a physical or developmental disability. As the name implies, a special needs trust benefits an individual with...
Special needs trusts can help protect assistance benefits
Many families worry about providing support for a family member with a disability without disqualifying them from government assistance. This is particularly concerning for those who have some assets to sustain them but cannot afford the care and treatment they need...
