planning for those with special needs

Special Needs Planning is similar to long-term planning but for loved ones who do not qualify for age-based benefits. This type of planning can be useful in obtaining or maintaining government benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A Special Needs Trust can pay for items that improve the quality of your loved one’s life but are not otherwise covered by government benefits.

A parent, grandparent, or other family member can establish a Special Needs Trust for a loved one as part of his or her estate plan. If the loved one were to receive his or her share of the inheritance outright, it would result in a termination of benefits to that individual until the inheritance is spent down. If the individual is receiving health care paid for by Medicaid, this loss of benefits may be catastrophic.

Wy'East Law can create a Special Needs Trust, as well as advise trustees on the best ways to manage their assets and assert their rights to additional benefits as their needs change over time.