Special Needs News

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has finally issued some guidance on the use and funding of ABLE accounts for individuals with disabilities, and guidance on the way the ABLE statute intersects with the strict financial requirements of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid programs. The federal statute (the ABLE Act) created an opportunity to create a fund to...

  ABLE accounts are accounts created under Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code with State counterparts, designed  for people who became disabled before the age of 26. Finally, New Jersey has adopted its Plan. A disabled person or their POA or guardian can use the account for any expenses that are incurred as a result of living with a disability and are intended to improve the disabled...

A person who is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration must report changes in his income or resources (assets) to SSI, because this can affect his eligibility or the amount of benefits. If countable resources exceed $2,000 on the first of a month, eligibility can be lost. If the issue is detected after the fact, there can be a resulting overpayment...

When an individual with disabilities needs the primary support that’s available through means-tested benefits such as Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) or SSI or HUD housing, having excess resources creates a barrier to eligibility. First party Special Needs Trusts for sole benefit of the disabled individual  are often the strategy of choice, as the disabled individual can...

House and Senate Republicans have approved their plans to reform the tax code and are currently in a conference committee. The House legislation calls for ending the medical expense deduction (MED). This proposed change will cause major disruption to individuals and families trying to privately pay for the catastrophic costs of long-term services and supports (LTSS). The MED has been in the...

Procedures for filing for Guardianship are changing in New Jersey as a result of amendments to the Court rules that were effective 9-1-2016. The Rules are at N.J.R. 4:86-1 to 4:86-10. Guardianship petitions now must be initiated using a specific set of forms that have been prepared by the Administrative Office of the Courts.  A Guardianship Monitoring Program is being established in each...

“Powers of attorney are for old people.” “I don’t need a Will, I don’t own anything!” Truth be told, signing a basic set of ‘estate plan documents” at age 18 can prevent expensive legal problems later. It’s like fire insurance — you get it, but hope you don’t need to use it. I have been in court on so many occasions when an...

Since the election, there have been serious plans put out there to radically alter the Medicaid program .  Right now, while it can be hard to get Medicaid without guidance and assistance,  if you meet the eligibility criteria you are entitled to receive certain statutory benefits under federal law.  The benefits provided to every person on Medicaid are paid for through a combination of  state...

Stakeholders in New Jersey made their feelings known in a big way to State DDD officials on a new transition plan that New Jersey had to give to the federal government showing the State’s increased efforts to develop residential placements that integrate people with developmental disabilities and other enrollees in the community. It looks like the revised plan has satisfied the...

Once a Court has ruled that a person is “incapacitated” and has appointed a Guardian of his person and property, the Guardian has many responsibilities and also, there are  certain restrictions on what a Guardian may do. The details are spelled out in New Jersey’s laws and court rules. Also, each County may have certain specific procedures of its own. One of these limitations...