Hit a Home Run with Special Needs Trusts (Special Needs Alliance: Special Needs Require Special Lawyers.‪)‬

This issue of Exceptional Parent focuses on today's opportunities in sports, recreation, exercise, and travel for children with disabilities. In the past a child with special needs had far fewer opportunities available to participate in recreational activities, and because there were fewer opportunities, parents did not have to think about the source of funding for these activities. Now the world of sports, travel, recreation, exercise and fun activities can be enjoyed by all children. Some recreational activities cost money. The question is whether parents or a special needs trust can pay for these activities without affecting a child's means-tested government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. Specifically, will payment for these items by other sources, including a special needs trust, constitute income to the child, thereby reducing (or even worse, eliminating) the child's monthly SSI benefit?