Special Needs Planning

Families who care for children with special needs know estate planning is crucial. They will face many challenges and worry what might happen to their child when they can no longer be there to help them.

Parents want their children to be taken care of after they die. But children with disabilities have increased financial and care needs, so ensuring their long-term welfare can be tricky.

If your resources are above the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program’s resource limits of $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a married couple, you may be able to "spend down" to qualify for SSI, similar to the process to qualify...

Elderlaw 101

If you think you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you should fill out an online disability report and then call your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office to complete your application. ...

Elderlaw 101

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) is a government-sponsored insurance program that is available to qualified workers with disabilities regardless of their income. If you qualify, benefits help with daily needs.

Elderlaw 101

Trusts designed to aid a person with special needs are commonly known as "special needs trusts."  There are three main types of special needs trusts: the first-party trust, the third-party trust, and the pooled trust. ...

Elderlaw 101

Planning by parents can make all the difference in the life of the child with a disability, as well as that of his or her siblings who may be left with the responsibility for caretaking (on top of their own...

Elderlaw 101

SSI is the basic federal safety net program for the elderly, blind and disabled, providing them with a minimum guaranteed income.

Elderlaw 101

There is a dedicated hotline that travelers with disabilities or medical conditions and their families can call with questions or concerns about the security screening process.