I Don’t Need SSI or Medicaid. Why Get a Special Needs Trust?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that typically provides cash stipends to people who have paid into the Social Security system and who can't work because of a disability. (In some cases, it is possible to receive...

Funding a Special Needs Trust With a Structured Settlement

If you win a personal injury lawsuit, you may receive your award in a lump sum or as a structured settlement. With a structured settlement, you will receive payments over time; you may opt for a substantial initial amount, with lesser...

How Are Benefits for Disability (SSDI) Calculated?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal public assistance program that seeks to support people with disabilities. When applying for SSDI, many people want to know upfront how much they will be eligible to receive in benefits each month.

Supplemental vs. Special Needs Trusts: Any Difference?

Have you heard the terms “special” needs trust and “supplemental” needs trust and wondered what the difference is? The simple answer is that there’s no difference. Whether supplemental or special, these trusts serve the same purpose of helping meet the needs...

Older gentleman wearing a white hat and black glasses is sitting in a wheelchair at a table. He is being passed a bowl of noodles from a lady.

Food Will No Longer Count as Income for SSI Recipients

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a major change regarding how it calculates In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) for recipients of Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. Beginning later this year, the SSA will no longer count “free food” as...

Do Personal Injury Settlements Affect SSI or SSDI Benefits?

The answer to how personal injury settlements affect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits depends on your specific situation. However, there is a general answer: SSDI – No, your settlement does not affect SSDI benefit payments. SSI...

Lifetime Money Management for Children With Disabilities

Children with disabilities present a unique challenge for parents who are looking to engage in estate planning. For one, you will want to optimize your estate to use, enhance, and enrich assets for your child. At the same time, maintaining...

Choosing Trustees for Special Needs Trusts: 5 Considerations

March 14, 2024
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Special Needs Planning

Choosing the right person to serve as trustee of a special needs trust (SNT) is a key task when creating such a trust. It may also prove to be one of the most challenging. Trustees are responsible for the following: managing...

Turning 18: Part III – Medical Coverage & Housing for Your Child

Medical care is one of the most important services, if not the most important service, that a person with special needs may need over the course of their life. The transition from a parent's health insurance to an individual plan can...

What to Do When Your Child Turns 18, Part II: Financial Support

The financial planning steps a family takes when their child turns 18 establish the foundation for the child's support and well-being for the rest of the child’s life. If parents make the wrong decisions during this transition, the effects of those...