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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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OVERPAYMENTS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
What are overpayments? According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), an overpayment is when a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits receives more money for a month than he or should have been paid…
Read MorePROTECTING SETTLEMENT PROCEEDS IN LIABILITY CASES WHEN PLAINTIFF QUALIFIES FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS
THE PROBLEMYou’ve spent years fighting to get a settlement for your client. Finally there is a settlement. But the plaintiff was receiving MediCal benefits prior to the settlement so now…
Read MorePURCHASING OR SELLING A HOME AND ITS IMPACT ON PUBLIC BENEFITS
Trustee ConsiderationsWhen a beneficiary wishes to purchase home from his/her settlement proceeds that are placed into a First Party Special Needs Trust with CPT, CPT, as Trustee must consider the…
Read MorePURPOSE OF A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST (SNT)
If an individual receives a settlement from a work or personal injury, are no longer able to work and are on government benefits such as, SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and Medicaid (Medi-Cal…
Read MoreREASONS A TRUSTEE CANNOT PROVIDE BENEFICIARIES MONEY DIRECTLY FROM THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST
Throughout my eighteen years working with Special Needs Trusts and beneficiaries, the most common request I receive from beneficiaries is, “How come I (beneficiary) cannot get cash or funds for…
Read MoreRECEIVING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILD’S SSI BENEFITS
Receiving Child Support Payments and its Impact on Child’s SSI Benefits William Lindahl, MBA, CLPF & Sara Toor, M.A The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines child support payments as “a…
Read MoreREPORTING TO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES
If a beneficiary receives Medi-Cal (California Medicaid Program) benefits only he/she is obligated to report specific changes to the Medi-Cal regional office that serves his/her county of residence. What Needs…
Read MoreREPORTING WAGES
It is very important that individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) report gross wages to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Reporting of wages should be done monthly and in a timely manner. the Social Security…
Read MoreRESOURCES & SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
What are Resources?According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the term resources refers to money and other items that an individual may own and in turn can change into cash funds. The Social…
Read MoreSNT’S IN WORKERS COMP: PROTECTING THE CLIENT WHO RECEIVES MEDI-CAL AND/OR SSI
Some clients are already eligible for public benefits such as Medi-Cal, or SSI, or may be eligible for these public benefits as a result of their work comp injury. To…
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 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 MoreSOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY: CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEWS
Social Security Disability: Continuing Disability Reviews Sara Toor, M.A. & Cameron Lindahl, M.S. A Continuing Disability Review is referred to as a CDR. The Social Security Administration (SSA) periodically reviews…
Read MoreSPECIAL NEEDS TRUST FAIRNESS ACT
On Tuesday, December 13, 2016, the President signed into law the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act. What is it? This specific Act fixes an error in existing law that indicated…
Read MoreSPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS: PROTECTION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, FUNDING FOR YOUR FUTURE
The following article addresses the advantages of utilizing a Special Needs Trust and a structured settlement annuity. This article also addresses the advantages of utilizing these services with CPT Institute…
Read MoreSPOUSAL IMPOVERISHMENT: WHAT IS IT?
Having a spouse living in a nursing home or facility can be very costly. According to SeniorHomes.com, the average cost of Nursing Homes in California is $245 daily. It may even cost more…
Read MoreSSI RECIPIENTS RECEIVING GIFT CARDS/CERTIFICATES
Gift cards/gift certificates can be a great gift for a special occasion, birthdays, appreciation, or even holidays. However, it can have a negative impact on an individual who receives Supplemental Security…
Read MoreSTATE SUPPLEMENT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME RECIPIENTS
The maximum Federal benefit for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is currently $783 for individuals and for couples it is $1,175. The maximum benefit varies annually depending on the Consumer Price Index. If there is an increase in Consumer Price…
Read MoreSTUDENT FINANCIAL AID AND ITS IMPACT ON SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)
Student Financial Aid and its Impact on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) By Sara Toor M.A. and Cameron Lindahl M.S. Did you know that an individual who is at least 18…
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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