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Planning for the Future: How Does the First Party Special Needs Trust Fit in the Plan?

Third in a Three-Part Series

By Laurie Hanson, Esq., Special Needs Alliance

There are an estimated 600,000-700,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States who are living with aging family members and with no plan in place for their future. Below, our colleagues from the Special Needs Alliance emphasize the importance of planning and trusts.

With the launch of the Center for Future Planning, The Arc is shining a spotlight on the need to encourage and support families to create person-centered future plans. The Center provides practical assistance and resources on future planning items such as assisting the individual with daily and major life decision-making; housing and residential options and supports; financial planning; special needs trusts; and employment and other daily activities.

In the first installment of our series, we discussed the importance of planning for a person living with a disability. In our second installment, we discussed how the third party special needs trust (SNT) is currently the best tool for parents to provide for a person with a disability at the parents’ death. We defined basic trust terms, the importance of choosing a trustee wisely, how much money should be placed into the trust, and more. In this third installment, we will be discussing the first party SNT.

What is an SNT? A trust is a legal arrangement by which a person or financial institution, called the “trustee,” holds legal title and manages money for the benefit of a person called the “beneficiary.” An SNT, if established and administered correctly, allows a person with a disability to place his or her own money in the trust and remain eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and/or Medicaid. This only works if the SNT:

  • is established by a parent, grandparent, guardian, or court
    • for the benefit of a person who is living with a disability as defined by the Social Security Administration;
    • for a person who is under age 65;
    • using assets belonging to the person with a disability; and
  • is irrevocable; and
  • has a provision stating that at the death of the beneficiary, any remaining trust assets must be distributed first to the state as repayment for any Medicaid received by the beneficiary.

When is an SNT used? Individuals living with disabilities who depend on SSI and/or Medicaid to meet basic needs may have only limited assets – for instance, in most states, a person on SSI and Medicaid may have only $2,000 in cash and other “countable assets”. If a person inherits money or receives money from a lawsuit, he or she will no longer be eligible until the assets are reduced to the eligibility standard (e.g., $2,000 for the SSI program.). The SSI and Medicaid programs treat an inheritance or personal injury settlement as income in the month of receipt and an asset thereafter. Thus, upon receipt of the inheritance, the individual must either go off the program or reduce assets by the month after the month of receipt in order to remain eligible. To reduce assets without affecting eligibility, the individual may:

  • purchase assets that are not counted toward the $2,000 eligibility standard, such as a home, household goods, personal items like a computer or bicycle, an automobile, or a burial plot; and/or
  • prepay funeral expenses in a way that qualifies for an MA and/or SSI exclusion; and/or
  • fund an ABLE account if the disability was diagnosed before age 26 and the amount to be reduced is $14,000 or less – when ABLE accounts become available in his/her state of residence; and/or
  • place the assets in a special needs trust; and/or
  • place the assets in a special needs pooled trust sub-account.

Here are some examples:

Beth Jensen is a young adult living with a developmental disability who has a guardian. She lives in a group home and her support services are paid by a Medicaid waiver. She also receives SSI. Her father died without doing any planning (see installments 1 and 2!) and so she is about to inherit $300,000. Beth qualifies to be a beneficiary of an SNT because she is under age 65 and she has a disability according to SSA criteria, as evidenced by her receipt of SSI. The trust can be established by her guardian, and the inherited money can be transferred to the trust. She will remain eligible for SSI and MA as long as the trustee distributes the funds for Beth’s sole benefit. Any money left in the SNT at her death will be paid back to the state up to the amount of Medicaid benefits paid on Beth’s behalf.

Beth’s guardian could also establish a special needs pooled trust sub-account for Beth’s benefit. A pooled SNT is a master trust established by a non-profit corporation to hold assets for the benefit of a person with a disability. Here is a link to pooled trusts run by, or affiliated with, chapters of The Arc. The funds are pooled for investment purposes, but a sub-account is maintained for each beneficiary. A sub-account can be established by the individual with the disability, a parent, grandparent, guardian, or court. The trustee makes distributions from Beth’s sub-account for her sole benefit. At Beth’s death, a portion of the remaining assets may be retained by the pooled trust for trust administration purposes or to support other people with disabilities. Beyond what remains with the pooled trust, remaining assets are to be paid back to the state to reimburse the state for Medicaid benefits paid on Beth’s behalf. If any funds remain after payment to the state, funds may be paid to a remainder beneficiary named when the account was established. . Just how much money the pooled trust retains, and how much must be paid to the government, varies from state to state.

What can the trustee buy for the beneficiary with trust money? Guidelines are broad and, in general, the trustee may pay for goods and services that enhance the beneficiary’s quality of life. Examples of valid expenditures include extra therapy or personal assistance services, books, consumer electronics, musical instruments, travel and education, recreation and entertainment, pets, and some home maintenance, such as gardening and snow removal. In most cases, the trustee cannot give the beneficiary cash. If the beneficiary is on SSI, payment for food and/or shelter will reduce the beneficiary’s income by up to one third. Ensuring that the distributions do not jeopardize the beneficiary’s benefits is an important part of the trustee’s job.

SNTs can be complicated and state Medicaid agency requirements vary, so families should work with professionals who are experienced with the nuances of changing government regulations. The SNT can be a wonderful tool for those who rely on public benefits for basic needs to enhance their quality of life.

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national non-profit comprised of attorneys who assist individuals with special needs, their families and the professionals who serve them. SNA is partnering with The Arc to provide educational resources, build public awareness, and advocate for policies on behalf of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. This article does not constitute legal advice, and individuals should consult legal counsel concerning their specific situations.

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Planning for the Future of a Family Member With Disabilities

Part Two of a Three-Part Series

By Laurie Hanson, Esq., Special Needs Alliance

There are an estimated 600,000-700,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States who are living with aging family members and with no plan in place for their future. With the launch of the Center for Future Planning, The Arc is shining a spotlight on the need to encourage and support families to create person-centered future plans. The Center provides practical assistance and resources on future planning items such as expressing wishes for the future, supporting daily and major life decisions, and financing the future.

Below, our colleagues from the Special Needs Alliance emphasize the importance of planning and trusts.

In the first installment to our series, we discussed third party special needs trusts (SNT), also known as supplemental needs trusts, currently the best vehicles available to provide for a family member living with a disability after the parents’ death. In order to use this vehicle, parents need to understand how a trust works, how to tailor it to fit the specific needs of their family member, and how much money should be placed into the trust. Consider the following example:

Gary Smith wants Trusted Community Bank to manage his money after his death for the benefit of his daughter, Beth Smith, who is living with Down syndrome. Beth lives in a group home. Her support services are paid by a Medicaid waiver, and her room and board is paid from her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit. Gary does not want the money he provides to impact Beth’s SSI or her Medicaid waiver, and he has very specific ways he wants the money to be used for her benefit. Gary is single and has three other children.

What is a trust? A trust is an instrument to manage money. A trust is established by written agreement between the person who funds the trust (the grantor) and the person or financial institution responsible for managing the money in the trust (the trustee) for the benefit of a person called the “beneficiary.”

What is a third party special needs trust? A special needs trust (SNT) is a trust established to provide for the well-being and needs of a person living with a disability. As long as the trust is established and administered correctly, neither the property in the trust nor the distributions from the trust should jeopardize the beneficiary’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. A third party SNT is a trust funded with money that does not belong to the person with a disability. In the example above, Gary (the grantor) can establish an SNT, then place his assets in the trust to be managed and administered for Beth’s benefit. He would give instructions in the trust agreement as to how the money should be used for Beth’s benefit and what happens to the money following Beth’s death.

Who should serve as trustee? Choose the trustee carefully. Often it’s advisable to select a professional or bank with experience managing special needs trusts. It is important that the trustee be familiar with complex government regulations, which change frequently. While a family member could serve as trustee, the individual should be skilled at paperwork and accounting, and able to work well with the beneficiary. Sometimes it is better to leave trust administration to the professionals. This is an issue to discuss with an attorney before making a decision.

What property is controlled by the trust? Only money or property legally given to the trust is controlled by the trust. If property is not titled in the name of the trust, it is not controlled or protected by the trust.

  • A home can be titled in the name of the trust.
  • Gary could make the trust the beneficiary of his IRA or other retirement accounts, his life insurance, or CDs and savings bonds.
  • Gary could leave money and property to the trust in his will.
  • A bank account can be opened to place money in a checking or savings account in the name of the trust.

How much money should be placed in a third party SNT? This depends upon the beneficiary with IDD! Parents should work with a financial planner to make projections based on the family member’s living expenses, income, public benefits, caregivers, etc. For instance, say that Gary wants someone to visit Beth as often as he does – twice a week. In addition, every Friday he makes arrangements for someone (sometimes him) to go to dinner and a movie with Beth. This allows him and other people in Beth’s life to see her in her home and assess how she is doing. He very much wants this to continue following his death. He will have to project the cost of providing this service over Beth’s life expectancy to determine how much money should be placed in the trust.

What is a third party pooled SNT? A third party pooled SNT is a master trust established by a non-profit corporation to hold a third party’s assets for the benefit of a person with a disability. A parent will sign a joinder agreement to set up a sub-account within the pooled trust for the benefit of his or her family member. The funds in the sub-account are pooled with funds of other accounts for investment purposes only, but a separate sub-account is maintained for each beneficiary. Money in a sub-account of a properly established pooled trust will not jeopardize a beneficiary’s Medicaid and/or SSI benefits.

Why use a pooled trust?  Pooled trust sub-accounts are most beneficial when the amount in the trust will not be enough to justify the expense of a corporate trustee (such as a trust company or a bank). Also, the trustee of the pooled trust is professional and often has special knowledge about persons with disabilities. Pooled trusts should be expected to remain up-to-date on changing laws and regulations affecting federal benefits and their relationship to trusts. Many chapters of The Arc, for instance, have established pooled trusts for families and others to use. Some pooled trusts are run by chapters and others are independent non-profit organizations.

Why not “disinherit” a family member with a disability and rely on the siblings to care for him/her? This is very risky – siblings could move away, die, or become ill themselves. Some of them just decide to use the money for themselves. And in a divorce, the sibling’s spouse may be entitled to some of the funds intended for the person with IDD. If that happens, the person with the disability could be left unprotected.

What happens if there is money left in the third party trust or pooled trust sub-account when the beneficiary dies? The grantor states in the third party SNT agreement what he or she wants to have happen. In this case, Gary could state that at Beth’s death, any funds left in the trust should be distributed to his other three children, his grandchildren, or a charity. In a pooled trust sub-account, the language of the pooled trust master agreement will often specify that a certain percentage remain with the master trust at the death of the beneficiaries before distribution to other remainder beneficiaries. Pooled trusts vary on this, so families should check this detail.

Third Party SNTs can be complicated and state requirements vary, so families should work with professionals who are experienced with the nuances of changing government regulations. But the effort pays dividends, and can ensure a more secure future for a loved one.

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national non-profit comprised of attorneys who assist individuals with special needs, their families and the professionals who serve them. SNA is partnering with The Arc to provide educational resources, build public awareness, and advocate for policies on behalf of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. This article does not constitute legal advice and individuals should consult legal counsel concerning their specific situations.

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Plan for the Future: Yours and Your Child’s

Part One of a Three-Part Series

By Laurie Hanson, Esq., Special Needs Alliance

There are an estimated 600,000-700,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States who are living with aging family members and there is no plan in place for their future. Below, our colleagues from the Special Needs Alliance emphasize the importance of planning and trusts.

With the upcoming launch of the Center for Future Planning, The Arc is shining a spotlight on the need to encourage and support families to create person-centered future plans. The Center will provide practical assistance and resources on future planning items such as assisting the individual with daily and major life decision-making; housing and residential options and supports; financial planning; special needs trusts; and personal care and daily living supports.

The time to plan for your son’s or daughter’s future is now…and that means your future, as well. What a lot of people don’t know is that planning early, while seemingly expensive upfront, will save a lot of money and lead to better outcomes in the long run. Planning gives everyone peace of mind: you, your friends and family, and your son or daughter.

This is the first in a three-part series. This first installment is an overview of estate planning to protect your son or daughter with disabilities. The second will be an in-depth look at third party special needs trusts (SNTs) and third party pooled trusts. And the third will be an overview of first party SNTs and first party pooled trusts. You may want to read articles in The Voice, published by the Special Needs Alliance, which address these issues, as well. For instance, those articles discuss a 15-step approach to planning, guardianship, and letters of intent.

Estate Planning to Protect a Child With a Disability

The heart of a parent’s estate plan is ensuring that a son or daughter with disabilities lives in safe housing, has people supporting them, and maintains a good life after the parent is gone. The family must organize all of the son’s or daughter’s information, draft a letter of intent, and then ensure that all estate planning documents and nominations of any fiduciaries or agents are in place.

One of the most important goals of this planning is ensuring that the son’s or daughter’s public benefits are maintained after the parent dies and that there is money to provide for those things that the public benefits often do not cover (service animal expenses, therapies beyond the scope covered by the state’s health program, special foot care, assistive technology, communication devices, computers, someone to support your child, etc.).

The best way for a parent to achieve the financial goals is to establish a third party SNT or a third-party pooled trust sub-account for the son or daughter and direct all assets (retirement accounts, real property, investments, cash, etc.) to the third party special needs trust – either by beneficiary designation or in the parent’s will. If the trust is established correctly and the person or entity appointed to manage the trust or the pooled trust sub-account (called a trustee) manages the trust properly, the son or daughter will be able to maintain public benefits and still have services and supports that are not covered. Upon the son’s or daughter’s death, any money left in the third party special trust can go to other family members, a charity or wherever you want it to go.

You should also decide who will be the person who makes sure that your son or daughter still gets his or her Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (this is called the representative payee) and who will be the person who makes sure that your son or daughter still gets his or her Medicaid, SNAP, or housing benefits. This could be an authorized representative or, if necessary, a guardian. Different programs have different agents who can be appointed to carry this out. You should know who that person is, though!

What Happens If You Don’t Plan?

If a son or daughter who relies on public benefits to meet daily needs – income, housing, food, and medical care – inherits money outright, the person will, in most cases, lose those benefits. If the person does not have capacity to manage his or her own money, a guardianship or conservatorship would have to be established so that the money can be managed for him or her. To maintain Medicaid and cash benefits, a first party special needs trust would have to be established – but this can be done only if the person is under age 65. Also, any money left in the trust upon the son’s or daughter’s death must be paid back to the state, up to the amount the state paid for Medicaid benefits.

SNTs can be complicated and state requirements vary, so families should work with professionals who are experienced with the nuances of changing government regulations. But the effort pays dividends, and the alternative may mean gambling with a loved one’s future.

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national non-profit comprised of attorneys who assist individuals with special needs, their families and the professionals who serve them, has formed a strategic partnership with The Arc. The relationship is intended to facilitate collaboration at the local, state and national level on issues such as providing educational resources to families, building public awareness, and advocating for legislative and regulatory change. 

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The Arc to Launch New National Resource Center for Future Planning

The Arc is pleased to announce it has been awarded $800,000 over two years by the May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust to develop a National Center on Future Planning for families and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The goal of this project is to support the estimated 600,000-700,000 families in the United States where an adult with IDD is living with aging family members and there is no plan for the individual’s future. The Center will empower aging caregivers to plan for the future of their adult son or daughter with IDD, providing families with information, resources, and practical assistance in person-centered planning; guardianship and supported decision-making; housing and residential options and supports; special needs trust and representative payee services; financial planning; and personal care and independent living supports.

“There is a silent crisis facing our country that desperately needs a solution – what happens when there is no plan for how an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability will live life to the fullest when the loved one they live with is no longer with them? In the last twenty years, people with disabilities have made great strides to live independently, be a part of their community, and experience all they want in life. But too many people are facing the next chapter in their lives without a plan, and The Arc is seeking to provide help to families and people with disabilities looking for that roadmap,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc.

The Arc’s new Center for Future Planning will have a robust online presence, with an interactive and user-friendly website geared toward older learners, with extensive, vetted content. The website will include a database of sources for local-and state-based information, people, and related organizations, and a searchable provider database. The Arc will also operate a telephone and online information and referral system, connecting people to help in their communities.

Chapters of The Arc will play a critical role in this Center, as they will be able to access best practice protocols when providing future planning resources in their local communities. The Center will also feature a National Pooled Special Needs Trust, develop protocols and business infrastructure to provide private trust companies with outsource assistance in servicing existing and future beneficiaries under individual special needs trusts, create training and networking opportunities for families and professionals in the field, and establish a volunteer action network. This new network will pair self-advocates with volunteers without disabilities to visit people with IDD in community settings and monitor their satisfaction and quality of life.

“This ambitious project aims to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families as they face a big transition in their lives. Families and people with disabilities are seeking out these resources, and just as The Arc has done for last sixty years of this movement, we are innovating to be a leading resource into the future,” said Berns.