Careful planning for a loved one with disabilities is one of the most important and compassionate acts you can take as a parent or caregiver. It’s not just about securing their financial future, it’s about preserving their...more
The General Assembly was in adjournment today, but lawmakers and lobbyists were watching attentively the action in Room 341 this morning. There, beginning at 7:30 a.m., House appropriators began slowly revealing their...more
It is possible that an individual, once diagnosed as a person with special needs, sometime in the future will no longer qualify as “disabled” according to IRS regulations. The individual’s condition might have improved...more
If you have already established an appropriate special needs trust for your child, then congratulations! You've taken a wonderful step towards ensuring that your child can take maximum advantage of the government programs...more
Saving money for a loved one with a disability can be challenging because of the $2,000 resource limit for eligibility for means-tested governmental benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. In the past,...more
Means-tested public benefit programs such as Medicaid (which provides health insurance and payment for skilled care andother medical expenses), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance...more
For some people with disabilities, homeownership may present a uniquely empowering opportunity. But for many others, purchasing a home through a special needs trust may be in the beneficiary’s best interests. Homeownership...more
ABLE accounts, new tax-free saving accounts for people with disabilities, hold great promise for special needs planning. But among the many questions surrounding ABLE plans is who can open accounts? Only the person with a...more
As Part of an ongoing series, we have previously provided details on the structure, funding, and evaluation of the Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood, Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, Medicare therapy caps, and community health...more
In 1993, Congress enacted Section 1917(d)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act, authorizing the establishment of special needs trusts (also called first-party trusts and self-settled trusts). First-party special needs trusts...more