Houston Special Needs Lawyer: Basics of a Special Needs Trust

For families that have loved ones with a disability, ensuring the care for their loved one once the caretakers are gone is of the utmost priority. The loss of specialized care and Medicaid or SSI benefits is a very real danger if proper special needs planning is not put in place, which is why Houston special needs lawyers often share the benefits of special needs planning involving Special Needs Trusts.

What is a Special Needs Trust?

Since even a small amount of cash assets can disqualify individuals with a disability from the care and assistance they need, it is important to not let these assets pass directly to them upon your passing. A Special Needs Trusts is the best way to ensure your loved one with disabilities keeps their care and assistance while also benefiting from the legacy you leave behind. Houston special needs lawyers design these Trusts in such a way that the assets in it do not belong to your child; instead, they are owned by the Trust and managed by a Trustee of your choosing who will direct the assets to be used for the benefit of your loved one with a disability. Medicaid and SSI will ignore the assets in the Special Needs Trust as they are not directly owned by your special needs loved one.

How may the assets in a Special Needs Trust be spent?

Assets in a Special Needs Trust can be spent in a number of ways which benefit the individual with a disability. These include education, recreation, vacations, home improvement, and certain out-of-pocket medical expenses. These expenses are considered “non-countable” by Medicaid and SSI since they do not count as the special needs individual’s personal assets. Houston special needs attorneys caution that assets in a Special Needs Trust may not be given directly to the individuals with disabilities, as this will oftentimes disqualify them from receiving state assistance.

What if I do not have a Trustee or I am not leaving behind a large sum of money?

In cases where a suitable Trustee cannot be chosen or a small or moderate sum of money is being left behind, Houston special needs lawyers often direct their clients towards Pooled Trusts. Pooled Trusts are typically run by non-profits. The non-profit will assign a Trustee who is responsible for managing the assets on behalf of the individual with special needs and the benefit of such an arrangement is that the Trustee and the non-profit are both heavily involved in the special needs community and understand the care and compassion needed to look after your loved one. While there are fees and different types of services attached to Pooled Trusts, they are often a good alternative to an individual Special Needs Trust in certain situations.

If you have any questions about how a Special Needs Trust can benefit you and your loved ones, please contact us at (281) 885-8826 to schedule a consultation.