A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is created to ensure beneficiaries who are physically or mentally disabled will be able to use federal, state and county public benefits and resources intended for their benefit. A trust may be developed for an individual who lacks the mental or physical capacity to oversee their financial affairs or to enables an individual to access government benefits.
- Supplemental or Special Needs Trusts are frequently established to protect assets derived from an inheritance or proceeds from personal injury litigation on behalf of a minor and/or disabled individual and maintain that individual's eligibility for governmental assistance programs
- SNTs are administered by trustees who may be family members or professional fiduciaries, operating under strict state court supervision. They are established under Federal law and contain a "safe harbor" provision. This means the assets in the SNT cannot be considered when applying for or continuing public benefits. Public benefits range from Federal (SSI, SSDI, Medicare) to State (Medi-Cal, California Children Services) to County (Regional Centers for the developmentally disabled and County Medical Services)
- An On-site case manager will:
- Meet with the family
- Assess the client
- Verify that all medical issues have been conveyed
- Act as a liaison between medical practitioners and the trustees and family
- Verify that the patient/claimant is at an appropriate facility
- Work with local vendors on planning issues