8 Benefits to a Special Needs Trust You May Not Know

A special needs trust is an essential estate planning document for some families. It can accurately help protect a disabled individual from losing government benefits if they suddenly acquire additional future income.

To ensure benefits aren’t someday taken away or grow to be invalid, like when an inheritance occurs, the wording and planning of a trust like this need to be carefully thought out.

When you use the correct language and take the proper legal steps with a special needs trust, some benefits that will stay in place, despite what the future may hold. Depending on the beneficiary’s lifestyle, creating a solid trust that plans for possible income changes is key.

A special needs trust may help:

  1. ensure government assistance continues
  2. protect Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  3. keep Medicaid as a health plan
  4. maintain the utilization of vocational rehabilitation programs
  5. preserve subsidized housing qualifications and monthly adjusted rent amounts
  6. defend certain inheritance funds if they come into question
  7. keep any proceeds from a settlement that may have occurred on behalf of the disabled person
  8. protect resources if the disabled person was sued

Many health, government, lifestyle or monetary benefits can continue despite unforeseen circumstances when the right plan is in place. Since each situation is unique to the person involved, it’s important to know the different benefits being used and which ones may need protecting in the future.

If a special needs trust is right for your family, you don’t have to face figuring this out on your own. Trusted attorneys can always help unravel the pieces to protect the quality of life and future to the fullest

The three documents your child needs to sign at 18

What you may not know is that you can lose all power to make financial or medical decisions for your child in an emergency or if they are unconscious. Doctors can use their best judgment on how much they reveal to parents, so being named your child’s representative is one of the only ways to ensure you can make medical choices for your child and have access to him or her.

Get these three documents signed

Three important documents to discuss with your child when they turn 18 are:

  • HIPAA to authorize doctors or nurses telling you about medical situations, possible treatments and relevant medical history
  • Medical power of attorney to permit you to make complex medical decisions if your child is unconscious or to refuse treatments for them
  • Durable power of attorney to give you financial authority if your child is incapacitated for any reason, or if he or she studies abroad and needs tax forms signed

Drafting terms in these documents can be as broad or specific as your situation or state requires. It is also a great idea to have them all scanned with copies kept at home as well as on everyone’s phone should an emergency arise.

While this can be a difficult subject to discuss with your child, it can prove to be quite valuable in the event of a tragic situation. Understand that you don’t have to figure this all out on your own, either. You can consult an attorney who can help you and your child understand the legal measures that can protect his or her medical and financial best interests.