Special Needs Trust Distribution Planning: Income Rules, Medicaid Eligibility, Structuring Options, Tax Issues

This CLE webinar will provide special needs planning attorneys and trustees guidance on special needs trust (SNT) distribution and income rules and planning considerations when structuring and administering SNTs. The panel will discuss the impact of SNT distributions on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, key trust provisions, permissible distributions, tax issues, trust accounting, eligibility rules for means-test programs, and other key items that must be considered in SNT distributions and planning.

An SNT that is not drafted or administered correctly can significantly impact persons with disabilities. Special needs planning attorneys and trustees must carefully consider a variety of income rules, tax issues, and other legal considerations when structuring SNTs and making distributions from SNTs.

SNT distributions should only be used for special and supplemental needs of a disabled person. However, understanding and distinguishing the expenses that can be paid, those that are not permitted, and how such payments can be made under an SNT requires knowledge of a variety of rules and requirements under federal and state law. Attorneys and trustees must understand which expenses are permitted and plan accordingly to avoid any action that jeopardizes the beneficiary's eligibility for SSI and Medicaid.

Listen as our panel discusses the impact of SNT distributions on SSI and Medicaid, key trust provisions, permissible distributions, tax issues, eligibility rules for means-test programs, and other key items that must be considered in SNT distributions and planning.