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A SPEND DOWN: WHEN A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST ISN’T THE BEST OPTION
To be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, or In-home support services (IHSS), you cannot have assets in your name that are valued at more than $2,0001. If you…
Read MoreAsset Limit Test Update
In this blog, I will discuss some of the implications associated with the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 133, effective January 1, 2024, more specifically, the removal of the Asset Test…
Read MoreBenefits from parents work history for those born with a disability prior to age 22
Can you imagine a circumstance where your child born with a disability could get Medicare and additional income for life? Did you know that an individual born with a disability…
Read MoreCan my Adult Disabled Child Get SSDI?
Yes, if either parent has worked sufficient work quarters and either parent is collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Social Security Retirement. The now adult disabled child can collect…
Read MoreCPT is No Longer Charging Additional Annual Administration Fees for MSA’s
Great news, we no longer charge additional annual administration fees for MSA’s held in our Special Needs Trusts. www.cptinstitute.org MSA funds are a countable resource for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) purposes. We are…
Read MoreHearing Help from CPT Institute
How can CPT(Community and Professional Training)Institute help at your hearings as a nationwide non-profit trustee and 501(c)(3) charity? Whether you are setting up a Special Needs Trust (SNT), Pooled Special…
Read MoreMedicare Refresher
As a refresher, traditional Medicare comes in four parts. Part A for hospital benefits (free). Part B pays for your doctors; the monthly premium costs $164, subtracted from their SSDI,…
Read MoreSocial Security Administration’s View on Automobiles/Vehicles
There are some items the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers exempt resources/assets. You are probably wondering, “What does that mean.” Such items are not counted against the $2,000 asset limit…
Read MoreSupplemental Security Income (S.S.I.)
S.S.I. Law, Regulations, and S.S.A.’s Policy Manual By: Executive Director, Will Lindahl The legal framework for Supplemental Security Income (S.S.I.) was established under 42 U.S.C. §§1381–1383f, and the regulations are…
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What is a Special Needs Trust? [The Complete Guide]
Special Needs Trusts April 10, 2023 What they are and how they can help you In order to qualify for government benefits like SSI and/or Medicaid as a result of…
Read MoreMedicaid’s Underestimated Value to Medicare Recipients
By Cameron Lindahl, M.S., Director of AdvocacyCPT Institute, A 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Charity Despite the similar terminology, Medicare and Medicaid are NOT the same regarding coverage or eligibility rules. The individuals…
Read MoreHOW THE 2018 POMS UPDATE AFFECTS TRUST BENEFICIARIES
How the 2018 POMS Update Affects Trust Beneficiaries By Cameron Lindahl, M.S. and David Lillesand, J.D The Social Security Administration (SSA) released amendments to the Program Operations Manual System (POMS)…
Read MoreDEEMING: HOW AN INDIVIDUAL’S INCOME & ASSETS AFFECT ANOTHER’S ELIGIBILITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)
Deeming: How an Individual’s Income & Assets Affect Another’s Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) By: Cameron Lindahl, M.S. & Sara Toor, M.A.Revised March 2018 What is Deeming and Why…
Read MoreWHAT IS THE DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT?
What is the Deficit Reduction Act? By Sara Toor M.A. & Cameron Lindahl M.S. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, also known as DRA, is a Federal law that grants…
Read MorePAYING DEBT WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST
Paying Debt with a Special Needs Trust Sara Toor, M.A. & Cameron Lindahl, M.S. A Special Needs Trust (SNT) can pay past debt incurred by beneficiaries. This includes credit card…
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FLORIDA’S HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE FOR DISABLED ADULTS
Florida’s Home and Community Care for Disabled Adults William Lindahl, MBA, CLPF & Sara Toor, M.A The program that supports case management and in-home services through community based services is…
Read MoreHAVE YOU RECEIVED A NOTICE REGARDING YOUR BENEFITS?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) sends notices and letters to recipients who are on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or who have applied to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The notices and letters are extremely important to…
Read MoreHAVING A HOME AND RECEIVING MEDI-CAL
Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid Program) is a means-tested program or also known as needs-based. Meaning, that there are certain income, asset/resource requirements to qualify to be eligible for Medi-Cal. For Medi-Cal eligibility…
Read MoreHearing Help from CPT Institute
How can CPT(Community and Professional Training)Institute help at your hearings as a nationwide non-profit trustee and 501(c)(3) charity? Whether you are setting up a Special Needs Trust (SNT), Pooled Special…
Read MoreHOLDING ON TO UNCASHED CHECKS
Holding on to Uncashed Checks William Lindahl, MBA, CLPF & Sara Toor, M.A Individuals generally think that if that they receive a check in their name and do not cash…
Read MoreHOW CAN MY SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST BE USED WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH MY SSI?
If a beneficiary receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Trustee, like CPT, is not permitted to give individuals cash reimbursements for the purchases he/she makes for himself/herself even if he/she…
Read MoreHOW DO I KNOW WHICH GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC BENEFITS I RECEIVE?
When establishing a Special Needs Trust, it is vital to know what government/public benefits an individual is receiving. It is extremely important for the trustee to know what benefits a beneficiary is receiving…
Read MoreHOW DOES THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DEFINE DISABILITY?
How Does the Social Security Administration Define Disability? William Lindahl, MBA, CLPF & Sara Toor, M.A For AdultsFor an individual to meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of disability,…
Read MoreIMPORTANCE OF CHECK DISBURSEMENT REQUEST FORMS
“Why do I have to fill out a check disbursement request form, if I can just submit my receipts/invoices into you? Isn’t that enough?” We run into this scenario quite…
Read MoreIMPORTANCE OF SUBMITTING RECEIPTS/INVOICES TO TRUSTEE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF PAYMENT
Keeping an accurate record of which items, goods, or services were paid on behalf of a beneficiary is one of many responsibilities a trustee has when administering a Special Needs…
Read MoreIN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS) PROGRAM
What is IHSS?In Home Supportive Services, or also known as IHSSS, is a program that is a statewide program in California that is overseen by each county under the direction…
Read MoreIN-KIND SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE: WHAT IS IT?
In-Kind Support and Maintenance is also referred to as ISM. The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines in-kind support and maintenance as “food or shelter that someone else provides for you (trust beneficiary).” The…
Read MoreKEY TERMS TO KNOW WHEN QUALIFYING AND ESTABLISHING A POOLED SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST
When qualifying and establishing an appropriate Special Needs Trust there are certain words or verbiage that may seem a bit confusing or unclear. To lessen the confusion and increase a…
Read MoreMEDICAID IN ARIZONA AND LONG TERM CARE
BackgroundArizona Health Care Cost Containment System or also known as AHCCCS, pronounced as “access,” is the name of Arizona’s Medicaid program. The state of Arizona, is a “1634” state which…
Read MoreMedicare Refresher
As a refresher, traditional Medicare comes in four parts. Part A for hospital benefits (free). Part B pays for your doctors; the monthly premium costs $164, subtracted from their SSDI,…
Read MoreMEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS
What are They?Medicare Savings Programs, also known as “MSP” Programs are specific programs that assist in paying premiums, deductibles, coinsurances, copayments, and prescription drug coverage costs. These programs may also…
Read MoreMEDICARE VS. MEDI-CAL: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Medicare is an insurance program. Medical bills are paid from trust funds which those covered have paid into. It serves people over 65 primarily, whatever their income; and serves younger disabled…
Read MoreMY CHILD RECEIVES SSI AND IS ABOUT TO TURN 18 YEARS OLD. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
If you have a child who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and is about to turn eighteen (18) years old, it is very important to be aware of what actions…
Read MoreNEEDS-BASED PUBLIC BENEFITS
Needs-based public benefits are also known as means-tested public benefits. Needs-based public benefits are benefits that have more strict income asset/resource requirements to qualify and be eligible for. Needs-based public…
Read MoreOBTAINING A BENEFIT VERIFICATION LETTER ONLINE FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
What is a Benefit Verification Letter?Are you unsure of which government benefits you are receiving? The Social Security Administration (SSA) can provide an individual with a letter that shows proof…
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