Blog - Special Needs

‍A 2-day experience dedicated to the education of professionals who plan for persons with disabilities and administer special needs trusts.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating to people with disabilities. Studies indicate that they are three times as likely to die from the virus as the general population.

President-elect Joe Biden has made more promises to the disability community than perhaps any incoming president in U.S. history, raising the hopes of advocates. The former vice president’s proposals range from strengthening enforcement against disability discrimination to nearly doubling the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly benefit.

Included in the new tax bill, signed by President Trump on December 22, is a provision that could provide some temporary relief for families with high medical expenses.

Some people become disabled as the result of a work-related illness or injury. In these cases, the individual may be eligible for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, their total benefits may be limited by what is known as the “workers’ compensation offset.”

If your child receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and is going to turn 18, you should talk with your special needs planner about some important changes that could significantly impact your child’s SSI benefit.

One constant thing we see daily in our office when family members are confronted with the task of caring for their loved ones is caregiver burnout. As the population ages and more adults are finding themselves having to juggle their lives while caring for an aging parent, the number of people acting as caregivers for their parents has skyrocketed.

The Social Security Administration and the Federal Trade Commission recently issued warnings for people to be on the lookout for identity thieves seeking personal information in connection with disability benefit applications.

Learn about special needs trusts with our experienced special needs attorney in Michigan at Michigan Law Center. Read our blog or call for a consultation.