Special Needs

Caring for a Child with Special Needs? You May Be Eligible for Early Social Security Benefits

Caring for a Child with Special Needs? You May Be Eligible for Early Social Security BenefitsCaring for a child with special needs requires many resources, one of which may be Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

When a parent of a child with special needs retires and begins receiving Social Security retirement benefits, the child may qualify for SSDI. A lesser known provision in the Social Security regulation allows the spouse of the retiree to also receive Social Security benefits regardless of whether they are of retirement age or not—so long as they are caring for the child with special needs at home.

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The ABLE Act and Its Impact on Special Needs Planning

The ABLE Act and Its Impact on Special Needs PlanningRusso Law Group, P.C. is pleased to share this article on behalf of guest author Robert P. Mascali, Esq.

In December 2014, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act was signed into law, adding to the toolkit for practitioners advising elderly and disabled clients. The ABLE Act allows contributions to be made to tax-advantaged ABLE Act 529A accounts to pay qualified expenses for disabled individuals.

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How Do I Disinherit Someone in My Will?

How Do I Disinherit Someone in My Will?Oftentimes when creating an estate plan, it is requested that a family member or friend be disinherited. There are many reasons why one would chose to disinherit someone. Perhaps the person creating the estate plan has already provided the family member or friend with gifts during his or her lifetime. Perhaps he or she wants to avoid disqualifying the person from government benefits. There might have been a falling out between the individuals. Or there might be tax reasons for wanting to disinherit.

No matter what the reason is, it is important to understand the potential pitfalls of disinheriting someone.

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Think You Have to Disinherit Your Child with Special Needs? Think Again!

Think You Have to Disinherit Your Special-Needs Child? Think Again!Many families assume it’s better to disinherit their child with special needs. Their intentions are loving—they don’t want the child to lose their government benefits as a result of inheriting; they don’t want to do their child more harm than good. They think it would be better to leave everything to their other children, trusting that those children will take care of the child with special needs.

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Preparing for the Winter: Legal Documents for Peace of Mind

You Don’t Need to Travel to Our Office to Get HelpUnless you have a crystal ball, it’s impossible to predict what the future holds. Should you become unable to make your own decisions, it is imperative to appoint someone to take care of your affairs and make healthcare decisions on your behalf.  Additionally, in order to ensure that your assets are passed on to your loved ones without problems, high legal fees and time delays, it is important to start your planning today.

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Understanding the Impact of SSI Benefits on other Benefits

Beware: Increased Child Support May Mean Decreased or Lost SSIIt is a little-known but important fact that receiving benefits of one kind can affect benefits of another kind, sometimes adversely.

Take the case of Sally and her son, Paul. Sally is a constant advocate for Paul, who has special needs. Paul is currently receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Sally is also receiving Medicaid.

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Project Lifesaver: Bringing Loved Ones Home

Project Lifesaver: Bringing Loved Ones HomeThe Suffolk County Sheriff’s office has implemented the Project Lifesaver program. Project Lifesaver is a countywide emergency response locator system to help locate someone with cognitive impairments who may have wandered or gotten lost.

The client wears a battery-operated transmitter bracelet that emits a signal every second of every day (24/7). When a caregiver notifies the Sheriff’s office that someone with a Project Lifesaver bracelet is missing, specially trained rescue personnel are immediately dispatched to track the signal and help locate the missing person. The signal can be tracked for up to several miles by air and by land.

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