According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 54 children has an autism spectrum disorder such as autism or Asperger's disease. After an ASD diagnosis, parents often have questions about their child's ability to live independently in the...
Special Needs Trusts
Navigating the IEP process in United Kingdom
When your child's doctor says that he or she has special educational needs, you can ensure the school meets these needs with an Individualized Education Program. This legal document describes your child's current academic performance, goals and objectives for...
Can my Disabled Child have Both an ABLE Account and a Special Needs Trust?
When parents are caring for a disabled child, they have the dual responsibilities of ensuring their daily needs and requirements are met and planning for their future care. The sooner parents begin to save and prepare for their child's long-term expenses, the better....
Do I Need to Set up a Special Needs Trust?
If you are the parent of a child or have a loved one with a significant disability, planning for their future expenses is essential. One way to provide for a disabled person's needs is through a special needs trust. This unique device can be a critical source of...
Is my Loved One with Special Needs Safe from COVID-19 in their Care Facility?
According to a recent article, in the U.S., thousands of people who are ill with COVID-19 are living in homes for the disabled. This is highly concerning as many residents in these types of facilities already have serious medical conditions. Like nursing home...
Updating Your Loved One’s Special Needs Plan
Once you have a comprehensive special-needs plan in place, it can be a relief knowing that your disabled child, family member, or other loved one’s future is secure. However, it's always good to review their terms periodically to make sure they make sense of your...
Is Your Child’s Special Needs Plan in Order?
When your child has a significant disability that is expected to last into adulthood, it's critical to plan for the future. This usually involves setting goals like deciding where they will live, applying for government benefits, and establishing a special needs...
Which type of special needs trust should I choose?
When creating a special needs trust, you need to make sure to choose the right type. There are two options: first-party and third-party. According to the Special Needs Alliance, the most important distinction between the two types of special needs trusts is that a...
Finding the money for a special needs trust
Parents may know that a trust can provide long-term financial support for their special needs child. However, they may worry about how they will fund this trust and how the trust will affect their child's federal benefits. Some parents may worry that their child will...
When is a special needs trust appropriate?
A trust is a financial planning instrument that contains assets and one person (the trustee) manages it for another person's (the beneficiary's) benefit. There are certain cases where you may want to set up a special needs trust to ensure that your family member...
