Mrs. Client has an adult son, Freddie, who resides in her home. Freddie was born with a developmental disability 1. Freddie’s grandmother wishes to give him a generous bequest in her will. Mrs. Client hopes to set up a trust so that Freddie can some day enjoy his grandmother’s money, without jeopardizing his state or federal benefits.
It is imperative that her attorney supplies accurate information about special needs trusts 2. A special needs trust 3 is crucial to Freddie’s future. More than likely, this young man will someday have to face life without his parents’ financial help. Without a trust, he will have to survive solely on his SSI benefits, which are well below the poverty level 4.
But if he receives an inheritance outright, he will lose his SSI and Medicaid. Medicaid covers much more than a few doctor bills for Freddie. For example, it pays for his case manager at community mental health, it covers a behavioral therapist to help him relate appropriately with others, and it makes him eligible for a host of local community services. Medicaid may even pay for his dentist, who specializes in providing care for persons with special needs 5.
There would be no point giving Freddie a testamentary bequest if it meant the loss of all his benefits. Then, Freddie would have to use any inheritance to pay for the things Medicaid now covers. The money would be quickly consumed without a special needs trust; grandmother might as well bequeath it to the State of Michigan 6.
If Freddie is lucky enough to have a trust, though, his trustee could send him to summer camp; or buy him a plane ticket to Albuquerque to visit his favorite aunt; or pay the retainer for an attorney, in case of a legal emergency. (Some persons with special needs are interrogated by the police, and confess to crimes that they did not commit, due to their high suggestibility).
Trust money can be used for uninsured medical or dental treatments. It can pay for private rehabilitation, schooling, and recreation. It can cover ball games, camping trips, roller blades, pizza parties, vitamins, or even a travel companion. The money can assist him in reaching his maximum potential and quality of life, and then eventually pay for his funeral. These are all “extras” he cannot afford on poverty level SSI income and Medicaid, alone.
From a legal standpoint, the trust itself is not difficult to set up 7. The hallmark of this trust is to be sure that the trustee has full discretion to spend the money however he or she sees fit 8, so a governmental agency will not be able to claim that Freddie has any legal right to the trust funds. In doing this, his creditors also should be excluded.
If the money to be placed in a special needs trust originates with the beneficiary, (a “self-settled” trust,) special language is required for the residuary clause. This is necessary if the beneficiary received a settlement from a lawsuit, an inheritance, or has saved up his own earnings from a part-time job 9. Trust language required in that situation is further explained later in this article.
The attorney should also understand Social Security and Medicaid benefits when working with Mrs. Client. By way of illustration, Freddie is 35 years old, and receives SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, due to his mental disability. When his father retires, dies or becomes disabled 10 Freddie will qualify for benefits under SSDI, or Social Security Disability Income, based on his father’s earnings.
Generally, a disabled adult (18 years old or older) qualifies for benefits on their parent’s account if the son or daughter was disabled prior to reaching age 22. This does not affect the amount of Social Security the father will receive when he retires. If the mother earned more than the father did, then her account will be tapped for the adult son or daughter with a special need.
Freddie currently qualifies for SSI because he does not have liquid assets in excess of $2,000. Neither parent has retired, died or become disabled. The federal government allows him to own certain property, such as a car or home 11, without losing his SSI. Freddie needs flexibility, and the trust can provide that by buying or selling a home for his benefit without affecting his Social Security benefits 12.
Some day, when Freddie starts receiving SSDI instead of SSI, his assets will no longer affect his right to receive the cash benefits. However, he will still have to keep his bank account, and other liquid assets, below $2,000 to qualify for Medicaid and other services from the public mental health system.
The solution: make sure Freddie spends the money received from SSI or SSDI on food, clothing and shelter. If he needs something special or expensive, such as an electronic video game, the trust can purchase it for him. The trust should not spend money on his food, clothing, or shelter (his basic needs), since that will be considered “income” for SSI or Medicaid purposes 13.
Further, the trust should be titled the “Irrevocable Special Needs Trust f/b/o Freddie Lastname.” Include discretionary language such as the following:
“Under no circumstance shall Freddie have the power or authority to demand any distribution from the Trustee who is under no obligation, implied or otherwise to make any distribution to Freddie. Further, the Trustee may withhold distributions to Freddie if, in its sole discretion, they would not be consistent with intentions as expressed in this Agreement. The Trustee shall use its best efforts to avoid distributions which may cause disqualification for any entitlement to which Freddie is or may be eligible” or,
“Trustee has full discretion to spend the trust income or principal, or not to spend it, as he or she sees fit. Beneficiary shall have no legal right to the trust assets, even in case of emergency. Any attempt by Beneficiary to assign his or her interest in the trust shall be null and void.”
In addition, the trustee needs direction, not to spend trust funds on food, clothing, or shelter, which would cause problems with Freddie’s SSI eligibility:
“To the extent that Freddie is eligible for any public benefits to provide for his basic support and maintenance, during the term of this Trust, Grantor directs that distributions from this Trust Agreement shall be used solely for supplementing those benefits which are available to him. Inasmuch as possible, the Trustee is to administer this Trust so that Freddie’s eligibility for public governmental assistance programs is not endangered.”
Not making a distribution for food, clothing and shelter is especially important for SSI purposes, but Medicaid is not as strict. Either government program could consider it “income” if third parties are providing the person with a disability with food, clothing or shelter. The rules are a bit elaborate; SSI allows Freddie and his family to plant a garden and eat their own tomatoes, without calling it “income,” 14 but if Freddie wins a cash prize for the biggest tomato at the town fair, that would be income 15.
If the trust buys a house it should rent it to Freddie. The rent should be low enough so that he can afford to buy his own food and clothing. Another option available to Freddie is a housing subsidy from the local community mental health agency. In sum, he should spend nearly all of his monthly Social Security check on necessities, and let the trust buy the extras that enrich his life.
An additional benefit, in preparing for the future with a special needs trust is the opportunity for the mother, father and grandparents to employ Medicaid planning should they need to do so for long term care in a nursing facility. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(c)(2)(B), the mother, father or grandparent of a person with a special need can transfer money to an under 65 disability trust and are nevertheless exempt from penalty for Medicaid eligibility purposes. Accordingly, if Freddie’s Grandmother needs to qualify for Medicaid, she may have an avenue to pursue without exhausting her life savings. Grandmother will have the added benefit of assisting Freddie by gifting to the Irrevocable Special Needs Trust f/b/o of Freddie Lastname.Choosing A Trustee
One of the biggest issues for the estate-planning client is the selection of an appropriate trustee. When establishing a special needs trust, this is the key issue. Most often, the trust will be funded when the parents die. Therefore, the questions becomes who should serve? Should the trustee be a close relative, such as a sibling? An agency which serves persons with disabilities, such as a local Arc (formerly know as the Association for Retarded Citizens)? A financial institution? Or an attorney?
In a few cases, the lucky parents will identify a close family member who is highly responsible and who cares deeply about the person with a disability’s welfare. If so, that solves the problem of choosing a trustee. There should be some thought given to a successor trustee should the first choice be unable to act. Keep in mind however, that there is a built in conflict of interest in choosing a sibling who is a named contingent beneficiary.
A bank or other financial institution can serve as trustee. However, financial institutions take a percentage off the top each year for administrative expenses 16, and generally will not accept trusts with less than half a million dollars. Further, a bank will not know when Freddie needs special vocational services or a new fishing pole. Obviously, someone who knows and loves Freddie will have to participate in the trustee’s decisions, either as an advisor or as co-trustee, even if a financial institution is appointed trustee.
It is a good policy to have a financial advisor involved in making investment decisions for the trust, but that can be done without making it the trustee.
If the trust res will not support a bank as trustee, due to the high administrative overhead, consider a pooled accounts trust (PAT) 17. The parent or other caregiver could have a hand in how the trust money is spent, but without the hassle of tax returns or investment decisions. Upon the parent’s death, the pooled accounts trust would continue its work, and any money remaining after the beneficiary’s death would be used to help other persons with disabilities in the pool.
Another possibility is a small stand-alone trust administered by a committee, to include a financial planner 18 and one or two family members 19. Several close relatives, working as a team, could likely keep each other on the straight and narrow. The financial member would chose sensible investments at a minimum fee. In case one of the team members dies, the others will be familiar with the beneficiary’s needs and desires. They will be ready to step in without waiting to become acquainted with the beneficiary’s unique personal characteristics. The remaining trustees could even select a replacement to join their trustee team. It may be beneficial to include a provision which allows a person to be appointed to break a “tie” should one arise.
How do the parents recognize a caring family member? Surprisingly, one of the chief characteristics of a suitable trustee is the person’s willingness to speak out against the parents and argue with them about what is in Freddie’s best interests. Suppose they have a niece, Janet, who sometimes makes suggestions about where Freddie ought to live, or how Freddie could make more friends. That type of interference is a sure sign that Janet genuinely cares about Freddie, to the point she is willing to speak up for him. As a trustee, she would be an ideal advocate, and she ought to have a say in the administration of his trust.
Certain non-relatives could be considered as candidates for the job of trustee, co-trustee, or advisor to the bank. The family pastor or rabbi. A special education teacher, or anyone else who works professionally with persons with disabilities.
In recruiting someone like Janet to serve as successor trustee, do not scare her away by suggesting that she will have to be his surrogate parent. Her job will be much more limited. She does not have to be responsible for the day-to-day details. She will not have to cook Freddie’s dinner, but she may buy a microwave for his kitchen.
Nevertheless, finding a trustee is not easy for most families. Anyone with a good heart, and who is responsible with money and knows the needs of the beneficiary, has the basic qualifications. Once the new trustee is controlling the trust funds for the welfare of the beneficiary, the person with a disability will be light years ahead of his peers without a trust.
Residual Beneficiary
When the beneficiary has died, anything left in the trust should be earmarked. The money could go to the person’s siblings, just as if he or she had died intestate. Another consideration, in choosing a residual beneficiary, is the fact that certain agencies do a tremendous job helping persons with a disability. Some parents generously choose to reward such an agency by making it the residual beneficiary.
What if Freddie’s cousin Janet serves as trustee, and is also named as one of the residual beneficiaries? As mentioned earlier, this raises a potential conflict of interest, since Janet should be trying to spend the money on Freddie, but might theoretically feel disinclined to do so, since saving the money will benefit her (or her lineal descendents) in the end. Freddie’s parents can probably avoid questions by confronting this issue openly 20:
“In establishing this trust, we, the Grantors, understand that the trustee is also a residual beneficiary. We believe that any technical conflict of interest is greatly outweighed by the benefit of having Janet as trustee, because we know her to be a responsible person who truly cares about Freddie.”
Other protections could be built in to the plan as the facts warrant them. For example, requiring an annual accounting to be reviewed by a third party, or local advocacy agency, and/or the use of a specific letter of intent.
Self-Settled Trusts
When a trust is funded with money which came from the beneficiary, it is a self-settled trust. This commonly happens when a person with disability has prevailed in a legal action and wishes to place the settlement into a trust. An inheritance can create the same situation, if it is placed in a trust after it is distributed by the estate to the person with a disability.
To avoid loss of Medicaid 21 when establishing a self-settled trust, it is not enough to create an irrevocable spendthrift trust, even if it is discretionary. Consult 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4), which explains how a trust can peacefully co-exist with Medicaid benefits. First, the beneficiary must be “disabled” as defined in the Social Security statute 22. A parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or the court must establish the trust. And the residual, after the beneficiary’s death, must be payable to the State of Michigan 23. Here is some language to accomplish that purpose:
Upon the death of Freddie, the trustee shall distribute an amount of the remaining trust assets, principal and accumulated income, as required under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)(A), or any regulations promulgated thereunder, or the corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal law, to any state providing medical assistance on Freddie’s behalf, equal to the total previously unreimbursed medical assistance paid on Freddie’s behalf under the State’s plan under Title 42 U.S.C. 1396(a) et seq., and shall forthwith distribute the balance of the trust to the person(s) and/or entity(s) designated by Freddie.
Depending on the size of the estate, it is unlikely that any money will be left over after Medicaid is reimbursed. But at least the beneficiary will have the pleasure of going to summer camp and having a few other enjoyable experiences, which would not have been possible without the trust.
Another option when Medicaid problem arise for a self-settled trust, is to join a pooled accounts trust for the benefit of a person with a disability. If the money is placed in a pooled accounts trust, the residual funds will be left to the trust for the benefit of other persons with disabilities. Medicaid will exclude such a trust in counting the beneficiary’s financial resources 24.
Conclusion
Often instinctively, parents wish to treat all of their children equally. However, when it comes to a son or daughter with a disability, it may be beneficial to gift a larger share of the estate to the person with a disability. A son or daughter with a disability does not have the earning luxury of his or her siblings. The person with a disability is limited to Supplemental Security income, and must depend on the generosity of family members for anything above a poverty-level existence. In splitting up their wealth for estate planning purposes, parents have a chance to look out for the welfare of a son or daughter with a disability, by placing an extra helping onto that person’s plate, through the special needs trust.
The rest of the children will understand.
Footnotes
1 Some people regard the phrase “mentally retarded” as stigmatized, but it is the legally correct term, as defined by Social Security at 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, appendix 1, Part A, Sec. 12.05. The phrase “developmental disability” is more politically correct in some circles, but its legal meaning includes persons of high intelligence; 42 U.S.C.A. § 6001(8). Practitioners are advised to use whatever language the client feels comfortable with, but stay away from the terminology used by Oliver Wendell Holmes in Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200 (1927) (“imbecile”).
2 Frerks by Frerks v. Shalala, E.D.N.Y. 1994, 848 F. Supp. 340, affirmed 52 F.3d 412.
3 Also known as a “discretionary trust,” a “supplemental needs trust” or an “amenities trust.”
4 Current SSI benefits is close to $500 per month, which is for rent, food, and clothing. However, clearly, no single person can live a proper life independently on that income.
5 M.C.L.A. 400.108.
6 M.C.L.A. section 330.1804; M.S.A. § 14.800(804).
7 Here is a one-paragraph version of a special needs trust, for use in the grandmother’s will or codicil: “I leave to the Trustee of the Special Needs Trust f/b/o Freddie Lastname dated January 1, 1999, the sum of $25,000, to be used to supplement (not replace) other benefits for which Freddie is eligible. If this trust is challenged as disqualifying Freddie from public benefits, the Trustee may terminate the trust.” This quickie SNT is certainly not perfect (a potential conflict of interest with Trustee if they are to take).
8 Miller v. Dep’t of Mental Health, 432 Mich. 426, 442 N.W.2d 617 (1989).
9 In re Johannes Trust, 191 Mich. App. 514, 479 N.W.2d 25 (1991).
10 When either parent retires, dies, or becomes disabled, that parent’s Social Security account may become available for a disabled adult son or daughter, if the parent’s earnings were sufficient to obtain “insured status.”
11 The car should not exceed $4,500 in fair market value. For a complete list of assets excluded from SSI’s definition of “property," see 42 U.S.C.A. § 1382b(a).
12 Parents desiring to ensure a permanent home for a disabled son or daughter should avoid trying to buy a home, or donating a large endowment to any one residential institution. By funding a trust, the trustee can make sure the person has suitable living arrangements, depending on circumstances which the parents cannot predict. Another option is the use of a charitable remainder trust.
13 See the ICLE reference work, “Michigan Guardianship and Conservatorship Handbook,” especially chapter 12 which explains what constitutes “income”. The book is available by calling toll-free 1 877 299-4350.
14 42 U.S.C.A. § 1382a(b)(8).
15 42 U.S.C.A. § 1382a(a)(2)(C). However, the first $240 per year of income does not count. 42 U.S.C.A. § 1382a(b)(2)(A).
16 Several non-profit organizations in Michigan have established pooled accounts trust, which are open to anyone in the state. A sub-account in a pooled accounts trust is economical and easy to set up. Contact Attorney Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek at (248) 586-9820, for a complete list of pooled accounts trust.
17 Several non-profit organizations in Michigan have established pooled accounts trust, which are open to anyone in the state. A sub-account in a pooled accounts trust is economical and easy to set up. Contact Attorney Patricia E. Kefalas Dudek at (248) 586-9820, for a complete list of pooled accounts trust.
18 Typically, a stock brokerage or a CPA will serve as financial advisor for about ½ percent annually, which is less expensive than a financial institution. Another alternative: state that the trust funds must be invested with Merrill Lynch (or A.G. Edwards or Paine Webber), and can only be withdrawn by the trustees acting jointly.
19 Specify that a single trustee from the committee can act alone, when dealing with third parties, and that the trustees are responsible for consulting one another about decisions. Otherwise, they will have to act unanimously on every little decision, which could get cumbersome.
20 Childs v. Nat’l Bank of Austin, 658 F.2d 487 (7th Cir. 1981).
21 Striegel v. South Dakota Dept. of Social Services, 515 N.W.2d 245 (S.D. 1994) (Self-settled trust vulnerable to Medicaid claim). For legal assistance in avoiding this problem, contact attorney Tom Trainer or Mary Schmitt Smith at (248) 645-9400.
22 42 U.S.C.A. § 1382c(a)(3). If the individual is already receiving SSDI or SSI, he or she obviously has already met the statutory definition for medically disabled.
23 Application of Moretti, 606 N.Y.S.2d 543, 159 Misc. 2d 654 (1993) (Self-settled trust did not interfere with Medicaid).
24 42 U.S.C.A. § 1396p(d)(4)(C). For more, please review 12 Mich.L.W. 1632, Trust Options for Seniors & Persons with Disabilities.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.