Special Needs Planning typically refers to creating a plan for the ongoing care and support of a loved one with a disability. Our planning focuses on identifying the current and future needs of our client, and then crafting a strategy that can best provide the necessary financial resources throughout the client’s life. Our role can be as broad or as narrow as our clients wish, and can include assisting clients to apply for short and long-term housing, to find educational and/or vocational training, as well as helping our clients to apply for government benefits. We can take the worry from your shoulders and collaborate with your family and any existing caregivers, financial planners, or other professionals you see fit to include to build each client the customized approach best suited to their needs, including the preparation of a Special Needs Trust (“SNT”).

SNTs are a primary estate planning tool, and they allow a disabled person to receive income without jeopardizing their eligibility for public assistance disability benefits. If you have a loved one with a disability, they will likely need public benefits at some point in their life, be it Medi-Cal, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, SSI, or medication/housing assistance. However, a disabled person can lose eligibility for such benefits if they are receiving income from an inheritance, or experience a sudden financial windfall like a litigation settlement. That is where SNTs come in. SNTs are an excellent way to set aside money for the ongoing financial benefit of a disabled person without jeopardizing their receipt of government benefits.

That said, SNTs are not a one-size fits all product. Whether you are the parent of a disabled child, a disabled individual yourself who is looking to protect an inheritance or litigation settlement, or you simply want to investigate whether an SNT is appropriate for your situation, you are entitled to a free consultation to discuss the precise estate planning product that is appropriate for your situation. Please give us a call at (415)439-0653 to schedule your free consultation, or click here to schedule a time online.