Special Needs Planning

Overview

The MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning^SM helps you to take steps to provide lifetime quality care that your dependent with special needs requires.

Planning for the future of an individual with special needs requires in-depth knowledge of the federal laws as they pertain to government benefit eligibility and legal documents such as special needs trusts and guardianships. There are important financial considerations as well for providing not just lifetime care, but quality of life.

In planning for the future of your dependent, remember that you are the primary expert, but you may also need to turn to a number of other experts for assistance on such things as special needs estate planning. Though many of these issues can seem overwhelming, it is important you take the time with those experts today to provide for your loved one’s tomorrow. Get more information.

The same holds true for dealing with issues of medical insurance authorizations for specialized services and products such as physical therapy and medical equipment. It is also true when it comes to knowledge of the special education laws which most often require you to become an active advocate and participant in your child's education plan.

The MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning's 2011 Torn Security Blanket study uncovers some of the financial and other challenges facing families with special needs as many governmental programs providing financial assistance are cut back or eliminated. The poll of 1,000 caregivers included interviews with some of the respondents.

MetLife does not provide tax or legal advice. We will work with your tax and legal advisors regarding your specific situation.

Services

MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning^SM is dedicated to helping families secure both lifetime care and quality of life for their dependents with special needs.

Our mission is to help families plan for the future of their dependents with special needs, including preserving government benefits and providing insurance and other financial solutions which can help provide lifetime quality care. The planning process begins with a complete review of your dependent's needs, future care plans, assessment of government benefit eligibility, and finally a review of your family's current financial and legal plans. Critical areas that must be addressed are:

1. Government benefit eligibility requirements for Supplemental Security Income  SSI and Medicaid
2. Types of special needs trusts and knowing which are right for you
3. Guardianship, conservatorship and client self-determination and empowerment issues
4. Appropriate funding vehicles -- including life insurance, to help guarantee your child's future quality of life.

MetLife’s Special Needs Planners can help you determine your dependent’s needs and funding options to address those needs.

Life insurance policies contain certain exclusions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. A Special Needs Planner will be glad to provide costs and complete details.

MetLife does not provide tax or legal advice. We will work with your tax and legal advisors regarding your specific situation.

10 Basic Steps

Below are 10 steps to help caregivers get started in preparing for the financial future of their dependent with special needs. Each circumstance is unique, so caregivers should consider their own situation carefully.

1. Plan for future medical, educational and housing needs for your dependent.  Start by thinking about what your dependent’s needs will be in the future – and develop your financial strategy based on these projections. Will they need weekly/daily medical treatments? Will they need funds for college? Would they live in a group home or need their own space?
   
2. Review beneficiary designations.  To continue to receive federal aid, dependents with special needs cannot have any assets in their name (cash, art, jewelry) that is worth more than $2,000. Check with close friends and family to see if they have designated your dependent to receive any inheritance or insurance benefits from their estate– if they have, it’s important that they leave this amount to your dependent’s special needs trust (see number eight on this list for information on trusts). Don’t let well-intentioned friends and family unknowingly cause your dependent to lose access to valuable resources. 
   
3. Have a family meeting to discuss your dependent's future needs.  Just as caring for a dependent with special needs is a family affair, so is the related planning. With the thoughts that you have facilitated your dependent’s special needs throughout their life, meet with your family members to discuss their concerns and options for future care. This is also a good time to broach the beneficiary designation issue discussed above.
   
4. Speak with a special needs financial professional and create a team of professionals to assist you in planning.  Once you have determined the current and future financial needs of your dependent with special needs, it’s important to pull together a support team that can help guide you through the variety of options available to you and your family. The composition of the team may vary depending on your unique situation, but it should include an attorney, and perhaps a health professional and a school guidance counselor, among others. 
   
5. Contact local nonprofit organizations for additional resource support. Your local nonprofit may be able to provide resources that can help with planning or that supplement the standard services provided by government agencies. A good starting place is to first contact a nonprofit dedicated to your dependent’s special need.
   
6. Apply for government benefits.  Government benefits – such as Medicaid and Social Security (www.ssa.gov) – may help provide for your dependent’s needs in the form of medical treatments and supplies, equipment, financial assistance and more. Visit your local Social Security Office to find out what benefits your dependent may qualify for; call or visit their website first to find out what documents you should have with you for your visit.
   
7. Prepare your Last Will and Testament (review and update periodically).  A Will declares how you want your estate to be distributed and allows you to select a guardian for your dependent when you pass away. It may be especially important to prevent automatic asset distributions directly to a person with special needs, and to be cognizant to not leave your dependent with special needs any assets in excess of $2,000 (as discussed in number two above.).  Speak to your attorney for additional information.
   
8. Consider setting up a special needs trust.   This allows caregivers a way to provide for their dependent’s care and quality of life, without disqualifying them for federal assistance. Trusts can be set up either funded or unfunded, and must be overseen by a trustee – often the dependent’s caregiver and/or a bank trust officer. Funds can be contributed gradually over the years, or the trust can be designated as a beneficiary of an inheritance or life insurance policy.  The money in the trust must be used to enhance the dependent with special needs quality of life, and can help to supplement standard services and benefits provided by government agencies.  Speak to an attorney experienced in special needs planning for more information.
   
9. Apply for guardianship and conservatorship, if applicable.  Caregivers must apply for a guardianship or conservatorship to maintain legal control over financial and healthcare decisions once a dependent reaches the age of 18. This can take up to a year in some states, so it’s maybe best to start this process early. There are different levels of guardianship and conservatorship available, depending on the dependent’s capabilities and needs. For example, a limited guardianship could be solely for financial or healthcare-related decisions.
   
10. Prepare a Letter of Intent.   Although not legally binding, this document is important for providing direction for the person or persons who will care for your dependent with special needs and should be stored with other vital documents, such as your Will.  Thinks of it as a “letter to the caregiver” – it can cover day-to-day care routines  such as what medical assistance is needed, as well as quality of life guidance such as what entertainment and activities should be provided.
    
    

MetLife does not provide tax or legal advice. We will work with your tax and legal advisors regarding your specific situation.

Info & Resources

If you have a dependent with special needs, you probably have already learned it's a much more challenging experience to get the best possible services and plans in place if you go it alone. There's no need to. MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning^SM provides a wealth of information and resources to assist you. Your Special Needs Planner may be the most robust source for information and help but the information here will help you on your special needs planning journey as well.

Planning for your dependent with special needs requires extensive research to compile an enormous amount of information relevant to your loved one’s well-being. You may need up to date medical, educational, financial, and legal information on recent changes in the law. MetLife is here to provide you and your family with assistance addressing the concerns that are unique to your family's situation.

For more information about the MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning, please call 1-877-638-3375.

However, we realize that your needs may extend beyond the scope of our areas of expertise. MetLife has provided the following links we hope will be helpful to you in your search for additional information and support resources.

Abledata — Information on Assistive Technology
www.abledata.com

The Arc
www.thearc.org

Autism Society
www.autism-society.org 

Autism Society of North Carolina
www.autismsociety-nc.org

The Coffee Klatch
www.thecoffeeklatch.com 

Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action (DSAIA)
www.dsaia.org

The Exceptional Parent Magazine
www.eparent.com

Family Village — Global Community of Disability-Related Resources
www.familyvillage.wisc.edu 

Huntington's Disease Society of America
www.hdsa.org

L.A. Goal
www.lagoal.org

Learning Opportunities for Individuals with Special Challenges
www.devereux.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org 

National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC)
www.ndsccenter.org 

The National Fragile X Foundation
www.fragilex.org 

The National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD)
www.rarediseases.org 

NICHCY — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
www.nichcy.org/Pages/Home.aspx 

(Special Needs Attorneys) Special Needs Alliance
www.specialneedsalliance.com 

(Special Needs Attorneys) Academy of Special Needs Planners
www.specialneedsplanners.com 

TASH
www.tash.org 

Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance
www.tsalliance.org 

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
www.ucp.org 

Victory Junction
www.victoryjunction.org

The websites listed above were created and are maintained by someone other than MetLife. These websites will have legal notices, privacy policies, or other requirements that differ from those of MetLife, so you may want to review them. We_re providing these links for your convenience. MetLife does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these websites. MetLife does not provide tax or legal advice. We will work with your tax and legal advisors regarding your specific situation.