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Special Needs Require Special Planning Parents of children with intellectual, physical, mental, or emotional disabilities dedicate countless hours to caring for their special needs, and face significant challenges in planning for their futures. What Happens When I Am No Longer Able to Care for My Child/Family Member? What Should I Consider in a Future Plan for My Family Member? Future planning also includes saving money and protecting assets for a loved one with a disability without compromising their vital government benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This can be done through the different types of Special Needs Trusts and/or an ABLE Account. Special Needs Trusts can be used to supplement government supports and services, without impacting eligibility for government benefits. The decision regarding when to establish a trust is based on several factors, but some of the most common reasons for establishing a trust are: when family members are developing their estate plans, when family members want to begin saving for future security, or when an individual with a disability has too many assets to remain eligible for certain government supports. The ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act created a new option for some people with disabilities and their families to save for future disability related expenses, much like the current Section 529 Education Savings Plans. Where Can I Go For Help in Developing a Future Plan? For additional information, please contact ACHIEVA Family Trust at achievafamilytrust.org or by phone at 1-888-272-7299 or (412) 995-5000 ext. 565. ![]() |
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