Special Needs Planning

For those who have loved ones with special needs, their most important concern is ensuring that this person will have enriching experiences and the best quality of life possible now and far into the future—even after the primary caregivers are gone.

To do this, it is imperative that the utmost thought and planning be given to setting aside the necessary funds to ensure a fulfilling life for that person.

In most cases, special needs individuals are eligible for numerous government benefits, which can help provide essential coverage for medical and living expenses, and even access to community programs. However, gifts made directly to a special needs individual can jeopardize their eligibility. In fact, to qualify for public entitlements such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the individual must have minimal personal assets – no more than $2,000 in the case of SSI.

At Pyne Law Group, P.A., we have gone through this process personally and can guide you and your family through the nuances and intricacies surrounding special needs law. Most importantly, we can establish a special needs trust (SNT) for your loved one, sometimes called a supplemental needs trust. This important estate planning tool gives you the ability to provide funds to enrich the life of a loved one with special needs, while protecting their eligibility for public benefits. This type of trust enables the trustee to use the assets of the trust at their discretion, either for essentials not provided through entitlement programs such as a private nurse or certain medical equipment, or for purchases they believe would enrich the beneficiary’s life.