Financial Planning


image of hand pointing at financial planning checklist
May 29, 2015

10 Steps Caregivers Can Take to Prepare for the Financial Future

Are you a caregiver to someone with special needs? Here are 10 steps to help get you started on preparing for the financial future.  Remember that each family's needs are unique, so you should consider your own situation carefully and seek tax advice based on your particular circumstances.  

Photo of family including person in a wheelchair on the beach
March 16, 2015

Can a Third Party Special Needs Trust Pay for a Vacation?

In general a Special Needs Trust can pay for a vacation.  However, the rules vary by which type of Special Needs Trust that you have.  If you have a Third Party Special Needs Trust, which is a trust that is funded by money that does not belong to the disabled person, you should have no problem paying for the entire vacation. However it is far easier to do this if you are vacationing on a cruise ship or another all-inclusive option.

Photo of Social Security Card on table with dollar bills
February 22, 2016

How Working Impacts SSI Benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits go down gradually as earnings from work go up. Social Security uses gross (before taxes) earnings to decide how much to subtract from monthly SSI benefits.
March 1, 2016

Join the Disability Resource Community!

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Photo of paper that states Benefits Insurance
May 17, 2015

The Basics of Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is one of the major federal programs that provides financial assistance to people with disabilities. Unlike some other programs for people with disabilities (like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), an SSDI claimant can qualify for benefits no matter how much money they have or how much money they make from sources other than work.
Image of Hand Writing "Benefits" on White Board
May 17, 2015

What You Might Not Know About Children's Medicaid Benefits

Navigating Medicaid benefits can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to children.  Most of us are aware that Medicaid covers doctor’s visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and also provides or reimburses for mileage travel to any Medicaid-approved medical visits for children who fall under certain financial guidelines.
photo of dictionary text of word Trust
March 1, 2016

When a Special Needs Trust Is Not the Only or Best Choice

Planning for an individual with special needs requires a myriad of factors to be taken into consideration in order to obtain and to achieve the best and most appropriate outcome for that individual. In the majority of cases, the individual seeking to do planning is doing so to either maintain a government they are receiving or to obtain government benefits. This article will set forth an overview of Special Needs Trusts (SNTs), as well as some alternative planning options to establishing an SNT.