eCourse
Answer Bar: Considering a Special Needs Trust
Contains material from Feb 2018 to Apr 2022
Technical Questions?
512.475.6700
service@utcle.org
Session 2: Special Needs Trusts 101: The Basics - An overview of the basics of special needs trusts and public benefits including selection of appropriate trust option, pitfalls to avoid and case examples.
Session 3: Maximizing Public Benefits - Review the basics of SSI, Medicaid and other disability benefits that trustees must know and protect; and catch up on recent changes and trends affecting trust beneficiaries who depend on those benefits.
Session 4: ABLE: Updates and Real-Life Application - Find an overview of Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and their utility in trust administration and planning. In coordination with Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) ABLE accounts can provide autonomy and expansion of permissible purchases for beneficiaries. Hear real life examples of how SNTs and ABLE accounts work together.
Session 5: Initial Client Meeting Guidance and Resources - Exploring the art of focusing client appointments and staying on track.
Session 6: Making Sense of Structured Settlements - Structured settlements are often used to fund court-created SNTs in the personal injury context. Drafting attorneys and trustees need an understanding of the fundamental concepts of a structured settlement annuity and the effects one will have on the funding and administration of a trust.
Session 7: Reporting a Trust - Address practical steps in determining when, how, and to whom special needs trusts should be reported.
Session 8: Pooled Trusts: Your Answer to Transfers and Over 65 Strategies - Is the size of a trust no longer economically feasible? Are you worried about a transfer of assets penalty? A pooled trust sub-account be a better fit! Discuss transfers from a D4A to a D4C, the authority, the pitfalls and the successes. Solutions for people over 65 who need a self-settled SNT are limited but a pooled trusts and the “half-a-loaf” strategy may be considered as an appropriate option.
Session 9: SSA Regional Trust Leads Presentation Regarding SSI Trusts - A discussion with the Regional Trust Leads on the SSI trust review business process, including field office technician and Office of the General Counsel roles. Hear the latest information regarding recurring drafting mistakes.
Session 10: SSI Application Process for Children and Adults - The SSI application process is deceptively simple. However, there are several things applicants should keep in mind to possibly strengthen their claim or at a minimum make the process as efficient as possible. Explore the basics about the SSI process getting a claim started.
Session 11: Masters of SNT—What I Know Now That I Wish I Had Known Back Then - Four of our most experienced SNT attorneys share what they have learned that they don’t usually talk about on microphones: how they have found the work they love; developed a passion for forms and systems; attracted and selected the best clients; built supportive and inspiring networks; and learned from their mistakes.
Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides
Preview Sessions
Show session details
Stephen W. Dale, Haley D. Greer
Download session materials for offline use
Session 1
—58 mins
Public Benefits Overview and Key Concepts (Mar 2022)
Hear an overview of the different public benefits programs that may impact a special needs client, and explore Texas-specific waivers as well as federal and state regulations.
Originally presented: Feb 2022 Essentials for Special Needs Planning
Stephen W. Dale,
The Dale Law Firm, PC - Pacheco, CA
Haley D. Greer,
The ARC Of Texas - Austin, TX
Show session details
Molly Abshire
Download session materials for offline use
Session 2
—61 mins
Special Needs Trusts 101: The Basics (Mar 2022)
An overview of the basics of special needs trusts and public benefits including selection of appropriate trust option, pitfalls to avoid and case examples.
Originally presented: Feb 2022 Special Needs Trusts
Molly Abshire,
Wright Abshire, Attorneys - Bellaire, TX
Show session details
H. Clyde Farrell, Christina Lesher
Download session materials for offline use
Session 3
—60 mins
Maximizing Public Benefits (Mar 2022)
Review the basics of SSI, Medicaid and other disability benefits that trustees must know and protect; and catch up on recent changes and trends affecting trust beneficiaries who depend on those benefits.
Originally presented: Feb 2022 Special Needs Trusts
H. Clyde Farrell,
Farrell & Johnson PLLC - Austin, TX
Christina Lesher,
The Law Office of Christina Lesher, PC - Houston, TX
Show session details
Haley D. Greer, Doug Jackson
Download session materials for offline use
Session 4
—44 mins
ABLE: Updates and Real-Life Application (Apr 2022)
Find an overview of Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts and their utility in trust administration and planning. In coordination with Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) ABLE accounts can provide autonomy and expansion of permissible purchases for beneficiaries. Hear real life examples of how SNTs and ABLE accounts work together.
Originally presented: Feb 2022 Special Needs Trusts
Haley D. Greer,
The Arc Of Texas - Austin, TX
Doug Jackson,
STABLE Accounts - Columbus, OH
Show session details
Benecia Flores
Download session materials for offline use
Session 5
—29 mins
Initial Client Meeting Guidance and Resources (Apr 2022)
Exploring the art of focusing client appointments and staying on track.
Originally presented: Feb 2022 Special Needs Trusts
Benecia Flores,
Petrosewicz Law Firm, P.C. - Richmond, TX
Show session details
Elisa Dillard Rainey, Carola Davis
Download session materials for offline use
Session 6
—43 mins
Making Sense of Structured Settlements (Feb 2018)
Structured settlements are often used to fund court-created SNTs in the personal injury context. Drafting attorneys and trustees need an understanding of the fundamental concepts of a structured settlement annuity and the effects one will have on the funding and administration of a trust.
Originally presented: Feb 2018 Special Needs Trusts
Elisa Dillard Rainey,
Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law LP - Waco, TX
Carola Davis,
Davis Settlement Partners - New Braunfels, TX
Show session details
Jennifer L. Coulter
Download session materials for offline use
Session 7
—30 mins
Reporting a Trust (Apr 2021)
Address practical steps in determining when, how, and to whom special needs trusts should be reported.
Originally presented: Mar 2021 Special Needs Trusts
Jennifer L. Coulter,
Townsend Allala, Coulter & Kludt, PLLC - El Paso, TX
Show session details
Haley D. Greer
Download session materials for offline use
Session 8
—45 mins
Pooled Trusts: Your Answer to Transfers and Over 65 Strategies (Apr 2021)
Is the size of a trust no longer economically feasible? Are you worried about a transfer of assets penalty? A pooled trust sub-account be a better fit! Discuss transfers from a D4A to a D4C, the authority, the pitfalls and the successes. Solutions for people over 65 who need a self-settled SNT are limited but a pooled trusts and the “half-a-loaf” strategy may be considered as an appropriate option.
Originally presented: Mar 2021 Special Needs Trusts
Haley D. Greer,
The Arc of Texas - Austin, TX
Show session details
Amanda Flood, Dana Marquez
Download session materials for offline use
Session 9
—58 mins
SSA Regional Trust Leads Presentation Regarding SSI Trusts (Mar 2022)
Originally presented: Feb 2022 Special Needs Trusts
Amanda Flood,
U.S. Social Security Administration - Dallas, TX
Dana Marquez,
U.S. Social Security Administration - Dallas, TX
Show session details
John Driskill
Download session materials for offline use
Session 10
—30 mins
SSI Application Process for Children and Adults (Apr 2021)
The SSI application process is deceptively simple. However, there are several things applicants should keep in mind to possibly strengthen their claim or at a minimum make the process as efficient as possible. Explore the basics about the SSI process getting a claim started.
Originally presented: Mar 2021 Special Needs Trusts
John Driskill,
Morgan & Weisbrod, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
Show session details
H. Clyde Farrell, Mary Alice Jackson, Renée C. Lovelace, Elisa Dillard Rainey, Patricia F. Sitchler
Download session materials for offline use
Session 11
—46 mins
Masters of SNT—What I Know Now That I Wish I Had Known Back Then (Apr 2021)
Four of our most experienced SNT attorneys share what they have learned that they don’t usually talk about on microphones: how they have found the work they love; developed a passion for forms and systems; attracted and selected the best clients; built supportive and inspiring networks; and learned from their mistakes.
Originally presented: Mar 2021 Special Needs Trusts
H. Clyde Farrell,
Farrell & Johnson PLLC - Austin, TX
Mary Alice Jackson,
Boyer & Boyer P.A. - Sarasota, FL
Renée C. Lovelace,
The Lovelace Law Firm, P.C. - Austin, TX
Elisa Dillard Rainey,
Rainey & Rainey, Attorneys at Law LP - Waco, TX
Patricia F. Sitchler,
The Law Office of Patricia Flora Sitchler - La Vernia, TX