Special Needs News | January 2025A Comparison of Special Needs Trusts and ABLE Accounts Every family has different needs and circumstances when assessing whether a special needs trust or ABLE account is the better option for their loved one with disabilities.Estate...
If you have a loved one living with a disability, you should be aware of the signs that these individuals may be facing abuse or exploitation in the guardianship system. Legal Guardianship An individual living with certain disabilities may benefit greatly from having...
Half of Americans report that access to affordable housing is a problem in their community, according to the Pew Research Center. For families affected by disability, housing costs can pose a particularly significant concern. According to the Center on Budget and...
Have you heard the terms “special” needs trust and “supplemental” needs trust and wondered what the difference is? The simple answer is that there’s no difference. Whether supplemental or special, these trusts serve the same purpose of helping meet the needs of...
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a major change regarding how it calculates In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) for recipients of Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. Beginning later this year, the SSA will no longer count “free food” as...
Not all disabilities are necessarily permanent. Take, for example, Talonda Mulgrew, who sustained a traumatic brain injury at age 16. Her loved ones assumed that her resulting disabilities would persist for the rest of her life. Talonda's family established a special...
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 7.4 million people received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments in 2023, including 89,000 spouses and 1.1 million children. SSDI supports workers who develop disabilities before they retire, as...
Mental illness affects one in five adults in the United States, the National Institute of Mental Health reports. The severity of mental illness varies. Serious mental illnesses are mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders that cause significant life impairment and...
The answer to how personal injury settlements affect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits depends on your specific situation. However, there is a general answer: SSDI – No, your settlement does not affect SSDI...
People with disabilities often require housing that accommodates their unique needs. In many cases, group living facilities may be appropriate, with the group environment providing stability and support. In other cases, the person with special needs requires a...
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial assistance to workers who become disabled and their families. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that 7.4 million Americans received Social Security disability benefits in 2023. Unlike...
An individual who has retired may apply to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits. If they have a child with a disability, the child may qualify for certain Social Security benefits, too. For instance, your child may be eligible for Social Security...