Caring and advocating for individuals with special needs is all about love and protection. Love is the easy part. Protection is the challenge.
You want to make it easier for your loved one to build a life within the greater community. You want to be sure he or she will be financially secure long after you're gone.
But how do you do this? How do you become a true advocate if you don't know the resources available? Or the legal issues that could impact the well-being of your loved one?
Our Connecticut special needs attorneys know how to safeguard the more complex rights and interests of those with disabilities and special needs. Our focus is to maintain important public benefits while having a financial plan that secures your loved one's future.
To build your loved one’s economic security, he or she may be able to receive public benefits such as Medicaid, Social Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) to name just a few. Connecticut has a vast array of programs – some with asset limits and others without.
A special needs trust is an estate planning tool that protects funds intended to enrich the life of your loved one while preserving eligibility for public benefits. Our Connecticut special needs attorneys can create the trust for you and help you understand how they work.
Government benefits can be essential to the long term security of a personal injury victim. And because many programs are based on need, without proper planning, the benefits could be discontinued when there is a settlement.
Managing the assets in a special needs trust is a tremendous responsibility. Preserving and maximizing benefits, personal advocacy, investing funds and financial accountability are all part of ensuring a safe and secure quality of life for a beneficiary. We have our own Trust Department to lift the burden off the beneficiary and his or her family.
Estate planning for a family member with a disability or a special need is complicated. It requires customized tools to preserve money from savings, a law suit or inheritance, so that there are enough resources to contribute to a secure lifestyle.
Click on the links below for further information about special needs trusts: