Life Planning

In our society children are expected to gradually gain independence from their parents as they get into their late teens and early 20's. However, parents of children with significant disabilities or chronic mental illness must often come to terms with the vulnerability of their children for a lifetime--even beyond the time that they as parents are alive and able to care for their loved ones.

Often government programs can help with the minimum needs of housing and food. But parents who are concerned about the quality of life beyond the physical necessities will want to provide more.

Life planning that takes seriously quality of life, of necessity involves financial planning. The complexities involved in financial planning for children with special needs are formidable. Financial planning experts are helpful, and a lawyer is essential. However, not all professionals in these fields are well-versed in the relevant laws.

Here, then, are informational links to the major issues that need to be considered. It is important to know what the issues are and to make sure that your lawyer is also well-versed in the relevant law.

This page tries to look at the total picture of the quality of life for the person with disabilities. Many parents need to know more about government programs. Estate planning is a key component when considering the total picture.

Related pages look at other planning issues that need to be considered, including residential services and vocational options.

General Information

Financial planning is best seen as a part of a general life plan for the person with special needs. While this is necessary because of the limitations of the person being planned for, it is best to involve the person in the planning process as much as possible. Always, the needs of the person being planned for should be uppermost.

Unfortunately, the one link I had here is now dead. I am seeking further information on the National Institute On Life Planning

Government Programs

Although some families receive benefits through government programs while their children are still in school, it is after the educational program has ended that brings many parents into the area of providing for their children into adulthood.

Government Benefits For Persons Who Are Disabled
An introduction to U.S. government benefits for the purpose of estate planning for a family member with a significant disability. A supplementary resource entitled Entitlements contains much the same information in a chart form.

Social Security Online: Disability Programs
The official U.S. Social Security site. A remarkably clean and friendly site for a government program.

disAbility.gov
A U.S. federal government website for people with disabilities and their families. Guides to many government resources.

What are Medicaid Waivers?
Helpful background article on one of the most common tools used by state and federal governments for providing funding for services for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness.

Estate Planning

The major issue for many families with a family member with a significant disability or mental illness is how their family member will be supported after parents are no longer living.

Special care needs to be taken that parents not leave an inheritance to a child with special needs in ways that jeopardize government funding sources such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. Many persons use some form of a trust to overcome these obstacles.

There is no substitute for a knowledgeable lawyer. The following links give helpful background information in selecting a lawyer who is knowledgeable in this kind of estate planning law.

Financial Planning
There are a number of good articles linked to this Financial Planning page (for some reason grouped with "Healthcare") from Exceptional Parent Magazine. Among the most pertinent are two articles that are also reprinted at the Riverbend Down Syndrome Support Group site

Articles on Estate Planning
Helpful articles on various aspects of estate planing by the law firm of Arthur, Nordmark, Carr & Associates, San Jose, California. See especially Trusts For Disabled Persons to Protect Benefits and Charitable Remainder Trusts.

Letter of Intent

Letter of Intent: A Life Planning Tool
Companion Resources offers a sample outline that can be an important tool that accompanies your will and any trust tools that are used to provide for your child.

Letter of Intent
An article that examines the topic of the Letter of Intent in the context of larger financial planning issues.