[hooplady]

Does anyone have any practical info on using a Supplemental Needs Trust? This is a special trust which helps shelter assets for individuals who receive public assistance (i.e. SSI and/or Medicaid). I am wondering if it is worth it for the average SCI.

As background, friends sometimes ask about donating money or medical equipment but one has to be very careful because of the convoluted rules for Medicaid and SSI. Basically, if a person has any meaningful resources he/she will lose benefits. Thus if Medicaid will only pay a fixed amount for a wheelchair, but someone theoretically was willing to donate a few hundred dollars for a better one, the disabled person would not only have to refuse the donation but the very offer may jeopardize ongoing benefits.

It appears that a Trust can be established and it can pay for items that Medicaid will not. But I am wondering if these Trusts are only useful for the truly wealthy, and not for the piddling few thousand that someone might be able to raise to give a disabled person a better quality of life.

I'd appreciate hearing any real-world examples or advice. Is it worth pursuing? How much does it cost to establish and maintain? Thanks!

[I just know you folks in the UK and beyond are scratching your heads that we would have such a crazy system, but it's what we've got!]


-Janet

[StillFingers]

hooplady, on Jun 17 2009, 09:40 AM, said:

Does anyone have any practical info on using a Supplemental Needs Trust? This is a special trust which helps shelter assets for individuals who receive public assistance (i.e. SSI and/or Medicaid). I am wondering if it is worth it for the average SCI.

As background, friends sometimes ask about donating money or medical equipment but one has to be very careful because of the convoluted rules for Medicaid and SSI. Basically, if a person has any meaningful resources he/she will lose benefits. Thus if Medicaid will only pay a fixed amount for a wheelchair, but someone theoretically was willing to donate a few hundred dollars for a better one, the disabled person would not only have to refuse the donation but the very offer may jeopardize ongoing benefits.

It appears that a Trust can be established and it can pay for items that Medicaid will not. But I am wondering if these Trusts are only useful for the truly wealthy, and not for the piddling few thousand that someone might be able to raise to give a disabled person a better quality of life.

I'd appreciate hearing any real-world examples or advice. Is it worth pursuing? How much does it cost to establish and maintain? Thanks!

[I just know you folks in the UK and beyond are scratching your heads that we would have such a crazy system, but it's what we've got!]


-Janet

Janet, I found the link below and many others that speak of Supplemental Needs Trust. The link below is directed at SSI/Medicaid receipts...hope it helps...Jerry

Supplemental Needs Trusts and Their Impact On Medicaid and SSI Eligibility
http://www.seniorlaw.com/sntimpact.htm

[hooplady]

Thanks Jerry. Actually I've found many websites (mostly run by legal firms) that have generalized info. I was looking more for real-life experiences. The law firms make it sound like everyone should have one of these trusts so I'm trying to separate the hype from the down-and-dirty.

[Oops, I should have posted this in the Comp and Legal Advice Forum. A kind administrator could move it for me as I do not know how.]

This post has been edited by hooplady: 17 June 2009 - 07:41 PM

[StillFingers]

hooplady, on Jun 17 2009, 12:14 PM, said:

Thanks Jerry. Actually I've found many websites (mostly run by legal firms) that have generalized info. I was looking more for real-life experiences. The law firms make it sound like everyone should have one of these trusts so I'm trying to separate the hype from the down-and-dirty.

[Oops, I should have posted this in the Comp and Legal Advice Forum. A kind administrator could move it for me as I do not know how.]

I just did some preliminary digging, it might be interesting to see if there is any info on the SSA site. I'll do some further investigating and get back to you...T/C.