Special Needs Planning

February 7, 2023

Big News for Special Needs Trusts! Charities May Now Be Named as SNT Remainder Beneficiaries

A special needs trust (also referred to as a supplemental needs trust) enables assets to be left to a disabled or chronically ill individual without disqualifying them from certain public benefits such as Medicaid.

For the special needs planning community, the passage of the SECURE Act 2.0 offers the advantage of enabling certain types of charitable organizations to now be named as remainder beneficiaries of SNTs funded with retirement accounts, but without compromising the favorable “stretch” payout timeframe available to individuals with disabilities who are the primary beneficiaries.

This is a huge win for families who had previously sought to name a beloved non-profit as a remainder beneficiary in a special needs trust only to be told that it wasn’t possible to do so.

January 3, 2023

Recipients of Social Security and SSI Benefits Get a Raise

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

In 2023, Americans with disabilities will receive a significant raise in their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and in other Social Security benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration, monthly SSI payments are going up 8.7% – an average increase of more than $140 per month beginning this January.

This cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023 and began on December 30, 2022 with increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits).

September 14, 2022

Understanding the Differences Between Guardianships and Conservatorships

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

It’s not surprising that people are often confused by the terms “guardianship” and “conservatorship.” Usage of these terms varies from state to state, and multiple levels can apply in either case.

We hope this quick overview will help set the record straight about when and how these terms apply according to Connecticut law.

To get started, let’s take a high-level look at the different kinds of guardianship and conservatorship that are possible depending on the specific situation.

August 22, 2022

How Much Should You Pay a Trustee?

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

Asking someone to be a trustee of your trust shows you have a lot of faith in that person’s capabilities and ethics.

But how much is their time worth?

Serving as a trustee can be a big responsibility, and can also be quite time consuming. And while family members and friends often serve as trustees without expecting any financial payment, there are many cases in which compensation is either warranted or required.

February 1, 2022

4 Key Differences Between ABLE Accounts and SNTs

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

For those who are new to the game, ABLE accounts are tax-free savings accounts for individuals with qualifying disabilities that began before age 26.

Created in 2014 as the ABLE Act, there are now over 20 ABLE programs to choose from, including Connecticut, which has its own ABLE plan!

How does an ABLE account work?

January 21, 2022

Recipients of Social Security and SSI Benefits Get a Raise

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

In 2022, Americans with disabilities will receive a significant increase in their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and in other Social Security benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration, monthly SSI payments are going up 5.9%, a change that started as of December 30, 2021 for SSI payments and Social Security benefits paid in January 2022.

The increase is a result of the yearly COLA (cost-of-living) adjustment and inflation and based on the Consumer Price Index determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. (The COLA increase is the largest since 1982!)

February 3, 2021

10 Things You Must Ask When Choosing a Trustee for a Special Needs Trust

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

There are many ways a trustee of a special needs trust could cause harm to a beneficiary, however unintentionally. This is why many people choose to have a disability planning attorney take on this critical role.

Here are 10 things to consider when deciding who should administer a special needs trust:

1. SSI, SSDI, Medicare, Medicaid… sound confusing? It can feel like alphabet soup to the uninitiated. Does the prospective trustee understand the differences between these public benefit programs and the rules that govern them? A trustee with limited understanding could unwittingly jeopardize a beneficiary’s eligibility.

July 26, 2020

Accessible Summer Fun

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

If you use a wheelchair, there’s a lot to do in Connecticut, especially during our way-too-short summer. Whether you love the beach or the woods, there are many great venues to sample.

We did some research and selected some special places for you to check out.

Take a Hike

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy lists wheelchair-accessible trails in Connecticut. Here are user-reviewed five star-rated trails:

June 25, 2020

Get the Help You Deserve with PLAN of CT

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

If you’re coping with a disability, either your own or a family member’s, a little help goes a long way. The little-known PLAN of Connecticut Charitable Trust is available to pay for a wide range of products and services that could significantly improve your quality of life.

The Charitable Trust provides assistance to people of all ages with disabilities, based on financial need. According to the US Department of Labor, individuals with disabilities are three times as likely to live in poverty as any other group regardless of race, age, gender or geography. Continue reading

June 25, 2020

What You Should Know About Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

by Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri LLC

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. While these two programs are different in many ways, both are administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning Continue reading