Special Needs Trust

Enhancing Life While Maintaining Important Government Benefits

Do you have a family member or loved one with special needs? Do they, or might they receive government benefits at some point? Do you know how your loved one will be cared for in the event of your own death or disability?

Many people are unaware that gifts or inheritances received by individuals with special needs can sometimes do more harm than good. Without proper planning, a gift or inheritance that is meant to improve the life of someone with special needs can actually cause them to lose important government benefits that provide for the necessities of life. A "Special Needs Trust" (also called a "Supplemental Needs Trust") can allow such a gift or inheritance to benefit a person with special needs without disqualifying them from the important government benefits available to them.

These trusts are subject to a number of complex rules and must be drafted with careful consideration of the most current federal and state laws that govern them. If properly drafted and administered, such a trust can provide many lifestyle benefits that no government program would ever provide. Below are a few examples (not an exhaustive list) of the types of lifestyle-enhancing benefits that can be paid for out of a Special Needs Trust:

• cable television service
• recreational travel
• dental care
• experimental treatments not covered by government health programs
• grooming
• massage therapy
• rehabilitation sevices

If you have a loved one with special needs who might benefit from the creation of this type of trust, Platt Law, P.C. can help you determine whether a Special Needs Trust would be appropriate for your situation. Contact us to schedule a consultation.