Planning for the Future for Your Child with Special Needs

by | March 24, 2020

Families of children are faced with the fear of the unknown. What will happen to my wonderful child with special needs after I die? Will my other daughter be overwhelmed with taking on the responsibility of taking care of her sibling with special needs? But this fear, while it cannot be completely eradicated, can be very much relieved with proper estate planning.

I know this is all true because I have a brilliant, unique, and spirited four year old daughter who has Autism Spectrum Disorder.

There are five primary considerations when developing an estate plan for your amazing child:

Portrait of a thoughtful little child

  1. Create a plan all while protecting the government benefits. Your child should qualify for Social Security disability benefits and Medicaid. Those, benefits, however, may be influenced by your income and assets. Our firm can walk you through this process.
  2. Supplement benefits and enhance the quality of life. Even with these necessary benefits, you may not have a lot of money. You can supplement these benefits without risking the coverage.
  3. Treat the other children equally. You can strike a delicate balance when providing for your special-needs child along with your other children. Maintaining fairness while still creating a financial cushion for the special-needs child is essential.
  4. Have funds available after a parent’s death. Being a caregiver to your special-needs child is a lifelong job. That also means that your child may outlive you, so you must think about a financial plan that will provide for your child after you die.
  5. Manage the inheritance through a trust. One of the most common options for parents of special-needs children is a trust. A financial expert can help you with the process to create something that works well for your child’s long-term care.

 

You don’t have to take this responsibility alone.

Because these decisions are complicated and personal, it is best to work with someone who truly understands how it feels to have a child with special needs and to only want to ensure that their future is secured as much as possible.

This process may feel difficult and produce anxiety and stress. Trust me, this is understandable but you don’t have to do it on your own. Call us at (312) 753-6000 to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.

© 2019