Special Needs Trust for Disabled Adults – Heirs
in California 

A Special Needs Trust (SNT)

A Special Needs Trust (SNT), sometimes called a Supplemental Needs Trust, is a legal arrangement in which a person or organization (like a bank) manages assets for a person with a disability. The person with the disability is called the “beneficiary” and the person who is managing the assets is the “trustee.” Many kinds of assets can be put into a trust, such as cash, stocks, bonds, and real estate. An SNT provides for the needs of a person with a disability without losing or reducing their benefits such as

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
• Medi-Cal,
• In-Home Support Services (IHSS), and HUD housing assistance.
  • SSDI? ** No Asset Test

Assets in an SNT won’t be counted toward the SSI, Medi-Cal and IHSS asset limit of $2000 for an individual.

Links & References

• CA Disability Benefits 101
• Transamerica Special Needs Trust Brochure
• kaiden elder law.com/special-needs-trusts
• Avoid taxes on earnings?  FAQ
• Jewish LA Trust & Services *  FAQ’s  *
• South Eastern Trust Company
• CA Department of Health Care Services – Special Needs Trusts
• Abusive Trust Tax Evasion Schemes – Questions and Answers
• Earn your The Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®)  Designation
• YouTube Videos on Special Needs Trusts & ABLE Accounts
  • 
• Probate Conservatorship to protect the adult child’s current assets.

  See also Court Website for FAQ’s

  Probate resources

• Our webpage on Probate Conservatorships

•  Campbell Law

  Investopedia

SSI #Resources & Income Limits

The Aged & Disabled  Medi-Cal program uses SSI countable income rules  as well as a few extra rules you should know. For more information, visit our webpages on the  SSI & Medi Cal programs, and follow the various links on this page

• Medi-Cal section of the
  • Disability Benefits 101 website.
• Countable resources are the things you own that count toward the resource limit. Many things you own do not count.

FLASH!!!

The asset limit in the Medi-Cal programs serving older adults and people with disabilities has been eliminated!  ^{CA Health Care Advocates *  DHCS}  *

1. Have less than $2,000 in Countable assets for an individual ($3,000 for a couple).
   1. Medi-Cal property limitations.
   2.  asset questionnaire
   3. CANHR simpler list
   4. CANHR Fact Sheet
   5. Understanding Medi-Cal’s Asset Test for Seniors and People With Disabilities
   6. Western Poverty Law 
   7. Nolo - SSI Income & Asset Limits
   8. Income SSA.Gov
      1. SSA Site
   9. Will my settlement affect my government benefits?  VIDEO
   10. dhcs.ca.gov/Asset-Limit-Changes-for-Non-MAGI-Medi-Cal
       1. dhcs.ca.gov/asset test amendment
       2. dhcs.ca.gov/Asset-Limits-Report
   11. california healthline.org/sset-test-elimination
   12. FAQ's
   13. Our webpage on SSI Resources & Income
2. Have less than $1,271 - 123% of FPL  in countable monthly income for an individual ($1,719 for a couple). ^{ca health advocates.org ADFPL    *  AB 715 Fact Sheet * Western Poverty Law  *} 
   1. Share of Cost if income is too high, but you qualify on asset test?