Special Needs Planning and Advising for Disabilities

A special needs trust (“SNT”) can be created for a person who has special needs or is disabled and requires governmental assistance for his or her care. A SNT provides benefits to a beneficiary that are beyond the means of the governmental assistance and will also protect the beneficiary’s eligibility for programs such as for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. This type of planning is also important for an anticipated disability, even if your loved one does not currently require any government assistance.

As part of our approach to disability planning we consider how to plan for clients who may need long term care, the potential need to qualify for Medicaid and how to protect assets from the cost of long term care.  The type of planning required will depend on the specific circumstances of each client, including marital status, monthly income, and the total assets a client and spouse have between them.