Planning for the care of a disabled child with disabilities is a top concern for families with children who have special needs. Not only do parents worry about who will take care of their child after their death, they also worry about protecting their child’s eligibility for governmental benefits such as SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and Medicaid. For many families, a Special Needs or Supplemental Needs Trust is an excellent planning tool to address some of these concerns.

A Special Needs Trust can receive the disabled child’s share of the parents’ estate and allow the child to remain eligible for governmental benefits while at the same time creating a fund that can be used to supplement those benefits to provide for the child’s needs. Special Needs Trust funds can be used to:

• Pay for medical therapies that are not covered by Medicaid
• Provide funds for entertainment such as movies or sporting events
• Purchase a television or computer for the child’s use
• Pay for educational opportunities
• Pay for transportation so that a child can visit distant family, take a trip or go on vacation

Every family’s situation is unique – if you have a child with special needs, a thorough review of your plan by an attorney experienced in special needs planning is a must

To learn more about Special Needs Trusts click here to read Attorney Suzanne Sayward’s article, Five Facts to Know About Special Needs Trusts.

To schedule an appointment contact Samuel, Sayward & Baler LLC by phone at 781/461-1020 or by email using our Contact form.