10 Tips to Consider for Special Needs Planning

Careful planning for the future of a loved one with special needs is one of the most critical life-protecting tasks you will ever provide for them. To approach the planning process in a meaningful and comprehensive way, consider the following...

A military dad sits a table with his daughter on his lap. She is touching the tip of his nose with her finger and while he is holding a blue iPad.

Funding a Special Needs Trust With a Survivor Benefit Plan

An estimated 20 percent of military-connected children have special needs, according to the National Institutes of Health. With a Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), military members can provide for their children with disabilities while helping them maintain access to other benefits.

Estate Planning for Parents of Children With Mental Illness

January 2, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Special Needs Planning, Wills & Trusts

Mental illness in the United States is more common than most people may think. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness and one in six U.S. youth aged 6 to 17 experience a mental health...

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...