SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUSTS: SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
© 2006 Jeffrey H. Minde, Esq.
WHY USE A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?
To Preserve Governmental Benefits And Protect Assets...
A Supplemental Needs Trust (sometimes called a Special Needs Trust) is a specialized legal document designed to benefit an individual who has a disability. A Supplemental Needs Trust is most often a “stand alone” document, but it can form part of a Last Will and Testament. Supplemental Needs Trusts have been in use for many years, and were given an “official” legal status by the United States Congress in 1993.
A Supplemental Needs Trust enables a person under a physical or mental disability, or an individual with a chronic or acquired illness, to have, held in Trust for his or her benefit, an unlimited amount of assets. In a properly-drafted Supplemental Needs Trust, those assets are not considered countable assets for purposes of qualification for certain governmental benefits.
Such benefits may include Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, vocational rehabilitation, subsidized housing, and other benefits based upon need. For purposes of a Supplemental Needs Trust, an individual is considered impoverished if his or her personal assets are less than $2,000.00.
A Supplemental Needs Trust provides for supplemental and extra care over and above that which the government provides.
Supplemental Needs Trusts had been used for years based upon case law. In 1993, Congress created an exception under the amendments to the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act (OBRA-93) which specifically authorized the use of Supplemental Needs Trusts for the benefit of individuals who are under the age of 65 years and disabled according to Social Security standards. The Social Security Operations Manual authorizes the use of Supplemental Needs Trusts to hold non-countable assets.
Each Supplemental Needs Trust is its own "entity" with its own Federal Identification Number (Employer Identification Number) issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The Trust is not registered under either the Grantor's or the Beneficiary's Social Security Numbers.
According to Congress a Supplemental Needs Trust must be irrevocable. A properly-drafted Trust will include provisions for Trust termination or dissolution under certain circumstances, and will include explicit directions for amendment when necessary.
MY FAMILY IS WEALTHY AND WE’RE NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENTAL BENEFITS. WHY BOTHER CREATING A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?
To Protect Your Disabled Family Member…
Other types of Spendthrift or Family Trusts aren’t appropriate for Special Needs persons because they don’t address the specific needs of the disabled beneficiary or his future lifestyle. Even in situations where a family may have significant resources to help a disabled family member a Supplemental Needs Trust should be established to address these issues.
Monies placed in the Trust remain noncountable assets and allow the beneficiary to qualify for available benefits and programs. Why sacrifice services that might be available to your relative now and in the future?
Just as importantly, Trust funds are not subject to creditors or seizure. Therefore, if the disabled beneficiary should ever be sued in a personal injury or other type of lawsuit, the beneficiary is not a “deep pocket” because monies placed in the Trust are not subject to a judgment.
IF HAVING MONEY CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR MY DISABLED DAUGHTER, WHY CAN'T I JUST LEAVE THAT MONEY TO HER BROTHER SO THAT HE CAN LOOK AFTER HER?
Leaving Money To Others Can Create Serious Problems...
"Disinheritance" was commonly used before the use of Supplemental Needs Trusts was officially recognized by Congress.
Disinheritance as a means of providing for a disabled or ill person puts the assets at risk. A non-disabled sibling holding assets for the benefit of a disabled sibling could be subject to such liabilities such as judgments from automobile accidents, a bankruptcy, or a divorce.
In such circumstances, the assets meant to benefit the disabled or chronically ill person could go to pay the judgment creditors or the estranged spouse of the non-disabled sibling. Using a Supplemental Needs Trust guarantees that the funds will be held only for the benefit of the person under the disability or chronic illness, and not for any other purpose whatsoever.
WHAT MUST A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST SAY?
Supplemental Needs Trusts Need Special Language...
At a bare minimum, the Trust should state that it is intended to provide "supplemental and extra care" over and above that which the government provides.
The Trust must state that it is not intended to be a basic support Trust. It should not contain an estate tax provision called a "Crummey Clause."
A properly drafted Supplemental Needs Trust should reference the Social Security Operations Manual and the relevant portions from within the Manual that authorize the creation of the Trust. It must contain the required language regarding payback to Medicaid.
The Trust should also have language explaining the exception to the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act (OBRA-93) provisions which authorize the creation of the Trust, and a copy of the relevant provisions from the United States Code (USC).
WHEN SHOULD I CREATE A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?
A Supplemental Needs Trust Is A Valuable Estate Planning And Investment Tool...
A Supplemental Needs Trust can be established at any time before the beneficiary’s 65th birthday. It is very common to create a Supplemental Needs Trust early in a child’s life as a long term means for holding assets to benefit the disabled family member. This is particularly true of parents who wish to leave funds for a child’s benefit after the parents’ death. The Supplemental Needs Trust is the estate-planning tool of choice for those parents. As a part of Estate Planning, the costs of the creation of the Trust are tax deductible.
Additionally, the disabled or chronically ill individual may at some time during his or her lifetime come into funds from third party sources, such as a personal injury settlement or a bequest from relatives or friends, Social Security back payments, insurance proceeds, or the like.
WHAT KIND OF ASSETS CAN BE USED TO FUND A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?
Almost Any Kind Of Asset Can Be Used To Fund The Trust...
Virtually any kind of asset can be used to fund a Supplemental Needs Trust, including insurance proceeds, inheritances, lump-sum payments from Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income, Settlements in legal matters, or just "piggy bank" money.
Many people neglect to set up a Trust when they receive assets, particularly lump sums of governmental benefits. However, it is important to realize that monies received as "back pay" for SSI or SSDI claims become income to the beneficiary when received. Ironically, this sudden influx of income can disqualify a person from the benefits they were just approved for.
For SSI, the rule is straightforward: A recipient cannot have more than $2,000.00 in assets. SSDI employment, income, and asset limits are more complex and confusing, and need to be anticipated.
In order to maintain benefits qualification, a Trust is a necessity as a "safe harbor" for any assets belonging to the disabled beneficiary.
IS THERE AN OBLIGATION TO REPAY MEDICAID, OR OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES?
There May Be Repayment Obligations In Some Situations...
A properly drafted Trust will address the issue concerning paybacks to Medicaid or other such sources. The United States Congress mandates that repayment language must be included in all Supplemental Needs Trusts, whether repayment is required or not.
The amendments to the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA-93) require that a payback be made to Medicaid, but only under certain specific circumstances.
A Supplemental Needs trust that is funded by parents or other third party sources will not be required to pay back Medicaid.
A Trust which is funded by a personal injury Settlement that is properly Court-ordered into the Trust will not be required to pay back Medicaid.
The only assets within the Trust that are subject to the repayment obligation are those assets which originally belonged to the disabled individual him or herself that are transferred into the Trust.
Examples of assets which would belong to the disabled individual in the first place could be such assets as earnings from a job, savings, certain Social Security back payments, personal injury recoveries which are not Court-ordered into the Trust, and the like.
The disabled individual's estate then might be liable for an amount equal to the Medicaid used during the lifetime of the disabled or chronically ill individual.
It is not uncommon for a Trustee or a disabled individual to ask a court to direct certain assets into the Trust. In that event, those assets may not be subject to the repayment provision of OBRA-93.
CAN ANY LAWYER CREATE A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?
Just As Most Podiatrists Aren't Neurosurgeons...
A family or person that wishes to benefit an individual under a disability or chronic illness will be well advised to utilize the services of an attorney that specializes in Special Needs issues.
A Supplemental Needs Trust can very easily be "invaded" by governmental benefit sources, and the Trust can be easily invalidated if the proper language is not utilized throughout the Trust.
A poorly written Trust can cause a loss of benefits, a loss of savings, or other financial and legal hardships for the Beneficiary or the Trustee, some quite severe, including civil litigation or criminal prosecution in certain extraordinary circumstances.
Using a law firm that specializes in Special Needs issues assures you that the attorney is familiar with the benefits systems, the proper creation of the Trust, and ultimately the defense of the Trust in the event that it should be challenged by a court, the Social Security Administration, Medicaid, or the like.
MY SISTER IS DISABLED. CAN I SET UP A TRUST FOR HER?
Yes, But…
The United States Code section that authorizes Supplemental Needs Trusts states that “a parent, grandparent or guardian” is authorized to establish a Supplemental Needs Trust. Siblings, caregivers or friends are not mentioned at all. However, the law does not forbid siblings and others from setting up Supplemental Needs Trusts. The law does not specify whether the “guardian” mentioned must be Court-appointed or can be a “guardian-in-fact,” such as a concerned sibling. And it does permit an interested third party (such as a sibling) to establish the Trust under certain circumstances. A well-written Supplemental Needs Trust established by someone other than a parent, grandparent or legal guardian should include a citation to this law for the sake of clarity.
In addition, the Courts in most States have recognized the right of a sibling, friend or caregiver to establish a Trust, and caselaw supports the idea.
Benefits providers and agencies often create “red herring” difficulties around this issue. Be cautious, and make sure you work with a lawyer familiar with this problem and that the Trust is properly drafted.
I HAVE TWINS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. CAN I USE ONE TRUST FOR BOTH OF THEM?
Just As Your Children Are Exceptional So Are Their Trusts…
Each disabled individual must have his or her own Trust document. The law requires that each Supplemental Needs Trust contain specific examples of what constitutes supplemental care for the beneficiary. No one’s needs, not even twins, are absolutely identical. This is particularly the case as people get older and their abilities change.
I’M VERY CONFUSED. I HEARD A LAWYER SAY SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING TWO SEPARATE TRUSTS.
It Really Isn’t Necessary…
This confusion stems from the Social Security Regulations, which make a distinction between “First Party” (or self-funded) Supplemental Needs Trusts that contain the beneficiary’s own money and “Third Party” funded Trusts that contain money from other sources. “First Party” money is usually subject to the Medicaid repayment requirements. Therefore, many lawyers insist on creating separate Trusts. This costs more and is often confusing to the Trustee.
A well-drafted Supplemental Needs Trust should be able to hold money from both “First Party” and “Third Party” sources. Funds from the different sources can be held and managed in the Trust in separate accounts.
I HEARD THAT A POOLED TRUST DOES NOT HAVE TO REPAY MEDICAID. WHY BOTHER USING A SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?
Pooled Trusts Aren’t For Everybody…
“Pooled” or Cooperative Master Trusts are a special form of Supplemental Needs Trust which can be established by not-for-profit organizations or groups on behalf of their membership (for example, a group home may create one for its residents). While it is true that Cooperative Master Trusts are exempt from the Medicaid repayment rules, the money that is placed in a Cooperative Master Trust is used generally to address the needs of all the members of the group, not just the specific needs of your disabled family member.
Once you place your money in the pool it usually cannot be withdrawn or returned to you. You cannot direct where the Trust avails will go if your family member leaves the group for any reason. Your money remains in the pool to assist future members.
You do not have control over how the money is spent. As a result, your family member may not get all the services he or she needs or might want. Management of Pooled Trusts is often given over to Accountants, Professional Trustees, Financial Planners, or financial institutions. Due to their relative rarity, Cooperative Master Trusts are frequently mismanaged and many have failed, leaving the group members without funds.
Cooperative Master Trusts can work well if you find one that is properly supervised and if you are willing to relinquish control of your assets to others. If this is an option that appeals to you, you are well advised to seek out a group that you know well and trust, can serve your special needs, and which has an established track record of successful Trust management.
I’M MY SON’S TRUSTEE. THAT MAKES ME HIS GUARDIAN, RIGHT?
Not Right…
Parents often assume that because they are their children’s caregivers that they are also their lifetime guardians. This is not correct. Every person over the age of eighteen is presumed to have the legal rights of an adult no matter what their abilities.
In order to be someone’s Guardian a parent or sibling must go to Court and petition to become responsible for that person. They must demonstrate to the Court that the disabled person is unable to act responsibly on their own behalf.
Merely setting up a Trust, becoming a Trustee, becoming a Power of Attorney, or being someone’s Representative Payee for Social Security purposes does not make you a Guardian even if you may have effective control of the disabled person’s finances and provide for all their needs.
There are several types of Guardianship. If you feel one is necessary consult an Attorney familiar with Guardianship law to determine which is proper for your circumstances.
(c) 2006 Jeffrey H. Minde and The National Special Needs Network, Inc.
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