by awarner | Oct 22, 2018 | ABLE Accounts, Medicaid, special needs planning, SSA, SSI
ABLE accounts, new tax-free saving accounts for people with disabilities, hold great promise for special needs planning. But among the many questions surrounding ABLE plans is who can open accounts? Only the person with a disability? Parents? Other relatives?...
by awarner | Oct 2, 2018 | special needs planning, SSA, SSI
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines that a person with disabilities is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, the decision is not necessarily permanent. Depending on the circumstance, the SSA will either regularly or...
by awarner | Sep 6, 2018 | Elder Law, Estate Planning, special needs planning
According to court documents, legendary singer Aretha Franklin did not have a will when she died, despite reportedly having a son with special needs. The lack of a will opens up the intensely private singer’s estate to public scrutiny and unnecessary costs, and means...
by awarner | Aug 14, 2018 | special needs planning, SSA, Uncategorized
Trustees of special needs trusts generally have wide discretion in determining whether to distribute funds to trust beneficiaries. But if the person with disabilities receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), careful precautions should be taken before any trust...
by awarner | Aug 3, 2018 | special needs planning, SSA
Travel is sometimes necessary when a family has a child with special needs. Family members may need to visit the person with special needs, or a medical emergency may require travel to care for the loved one, or the family may simply want to take the child with...
