Monthly Archives: October 2011
What is a “third party” special needs trust?
When someone uses his or her own money to set up a special needs trust (SNT for short) for another person, that’s called a “third party” SNT. It’s the best kind of SNT for two reasons. First, unlike a “first … Continue reading
What can a special needs trust pay for?
You may know that a special needs trust generally pays for the supplemental needs of the disabled, in order to preserve access to means-tested public benefits. But what are those supplemental needs? Commonly paid items Below is a list of … Continue reading
New Medicaid figures announced
Several figures used to calculate income for spouses of Medicaid applicants have risen slightly, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare announced. When calculating a spouse’s monthly maintenance needs allowance, the Department uses standard utility figures. The heating standard is used when the … Continue reading
National Estate Planning Awareness Week
The third week in October is National Estate Planning Awareness Week, as designated by the U.S. House of Representatives. (H. Res. 1499 2008) In its resolution, the House noted that “over 120 million Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans … Continue reading
What is a “self settled” special needs trust?
A “self settled” special needs trust is a particular type of special needs trust (SNT). In this post I’ll explain what it is, and when and how it is used. (For an explanation of SNTs in general, read this prior … Continue reading
New probate petition form required
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has adopted a new form to be used in opening probate estates. The new form is not radically different from the current form, but in my opinion it is an improvement. It arranges information in a … Continue reading
Finding a personal injury lawyer
We don’t like to think about it, but it happens. Someone is careless, negligent, or worse – and you (or someone you love) get hurt. Maybe quite seriously. The elderly are as vulnerable as anyone else to falling victim to … Continue reading
Ruling eases Pennsylvania’s restrictions on pooled special needs trusts
When Pennsylvania enacted a law in 2005 placing restrictions on the use of special needs trusts, many of us who practice in this field felt the restrictions went too far and violated federal law. A federal judge recently issued the … Continue reading
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