How to Plan for Your Special Needs Child

Twenty million American families have at least one member with special needs.  Special needs individuals typically require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological, and for impairments that could include autism, Down syndrome, mental illnesses, and blindness, among others.

During his or her lifetime, your special needs child may depend on government benefits such as Medicaid or SSI to pay for vital health care and subsidized services.  What if your daughter outlives you and cannot support herself and live independently?  If you were gone and your son was forced to deplete his inheritance, he could be left with the bare minimum provided by government assistance, and no more.

As a parent or guardian, you want to ensure that your child with special needs will remain financially secure even when you are no longer there to provide support. A Special Needs Trust is a vehicle that provides assets from which a disabled person can maintain his or her quality of life, while still remaining eligible for needs-based programs that will cover basic health and living expenses.  No one can replace the nurturing, love, and support that you provide to your child on a daily basis. However, the idea behind a Special Needs Trust is to help fill the financial gap after you’re gone, allowing your child to keep his or her government benefits while enjoying a quality of life similar to the one your child current enjoys.

Do you have a special needs child? The majority of American families who have a loved one with special needs require legal planning to ensure that the needs of their special needs family member are met.  Regardless of the type of disability, The Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. will work with your family to determine legal options for individuals and families of children and adults with special needs to plan for the future.  Learn more about the services we provide on our Special Needs Planning Website at VirginiaSpecialNeeds.com. We also invite you to call 703-691-1888 to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation to learn more about special needs planning.

Evan H. Farr on Google +