Special needs and Supplemental Needs Trusts

Provide for Your Loved One Without Putting Their Benefits at Risk

If you have a child or family member with special needs, you know that their care extends far beyond what government programs alone can provide. But leaving them an inheritance outright or even naming them as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, could disqualify them from a program upon which they depend.

A special needs trust, sometimes called a supplemental needs trust, solves this problem. It allows you to set aside assets for your loved one's care without jeopardizing their eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other government benefits.

Robin White works with families across Tennessee and Mississippi to create trusts that provide long-term financial security for loved ones with disabilities, both during your lifetime and after.

How a Special Needs Trust Works

A special needs trust holds assets for the benefit of a person with a disability. A trustee manages those assets and uses them to pay for things that government benefits do not cover, such as:

Therapies and specialized medical care
Personal care attendants and in-home support
Education, job training, and enrichment programs
Transportation, technology, and adaptive equipment
Recreation, travel, and quality-of-life expenses
Housing supplements and home modifications

Because the trust, not the beneficiary, owns the assets, the funds do not count against eligibility limits for government programs. Your loved one continues to receive benefits while also having access to the additional support the trust provides.

Types of Special Needs Trusts

There are several types of special needs trusts, and the right one depends on your situation:

Third-Party Special Needs Trust is funded by someone other than the beneficiary, such as a parent or grandparent. It can be established during your lifetime or through your Will, and there is no payback requirement to the state after the beneficiary passes.
First-Party Special Needs Trust is funded with the beneficiary's own assets, such as an inheritance received outright or a personal injury settlement. This type of trust does require Medicaid payback after the beneficiary's death.

Pooled Trust is managed by a nonprofit organization and allows multiple beneficiaries to pool their resources for investment purposes while maintaining individual accounts.

Robin will help you determine which type is appropriate and make sure it is structured to provide maximum protection.

What to Expect When Working with Robin

Robin understands that this is deeply personal. Families who come to him for special needs planning are thinking about the long-term wellbeing of someone they love, and he treats that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves. He'll take the time to understand your loved one's needs, explain how each option works, and build a trust that gives you confidence about the future.

Your loved one deserves a secure future. Schedule a consultation with Robin →