Special Needs Trusts and Autism

Autism affects one in 88 children in America, and Medicaidbenefits are essential for most in covering the expenses that come with raisingan autistic child.

Whenever someone considers giving money to help care for anautistic child, they need to do so in a way that won’t affect the child’seligibility for vital pubic benefits.

A special needs trust(SNT) allows someone to make a penalty-free tranfer of assets without riskingMedicaid coverage.  SNTs are meant tosupplement the costs of care for those with special needs by covering “extras”like education, vacations, social needs, recreational activites, clothing, andmedical needs not covered by Medicaid.

As it can be difficult to create the right SNT, it would be wiseto seek the advice of an experienced elder law attorney.

See Molly DearAbshire & Wesley E. Wright, TrustsProtect Autistic Children, The Houston Chronicle, Apr. 17, 2013.