Leaving an IRA to a Special Needs Trust Is No Longer Such a Bad Idea
The SECURE Act, passed at the end of 2019, changed a number of rules regarding inherited IRAs, making it more difficult for most...
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Law Office of
Eric M. Kearney, LLC
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erickearney
- Jul 1, 2021
- 3 min
Tips When Hiring a Caregiver for a Child with Special Needs
Hiring a caregiver for someone with special needs can be a daunting task. Not only do you have to find a person with the experience,...
23 views0 comments
erickearney
- Feb 1, 2021
- 3 min
Questions to Help You Choose the Right Professional Trustee for Your Special Needs Trust
Parents or other family members establishing a special needs trust for their child often want to name a professional -- usually a bank,...
101 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Nov 14, 2019
- 3 min
Year-End Gifts to Family Members With Special Needs
Here are some things to consider when making holiday gifts to family members who are on public benefits.
38 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Oct 1, 2019
- 3 min
Funding a Special Needs Trust with Life Insurance: The Basics
Funding a special needs trust with life insurance can be a means to provide money to a loved one with special needs.
12 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Apr 10, 2019
- 3 min
IRA Distributions to Special Needs Trusts - Minimizing Income Taxes
For many parents, the majority of their savings is held in some kind of a retirement account, often an Individual Retirement Account...
70 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Feb 16, 2019
- 2 min
What Can a Special Needs Trust Pay For?
A special needs trust is designed to provide a person with a disability the funds to enhance her quality of life while at the same time...
102 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Jan 3, 2019
- 2 min
Pooled Trusts: Should You Consider Taking a Dip?
Most special needs trusts (SNTs) are set up to benefit one individual. But it’s possible to contribute to a trust where the funds of...
21 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Jun 4, 2018
- 2 min
Social Security Provides Guidance on the Use of Prepaid Debit Cards by Special Needs Trust Beneficia
SSA recently issued new guidance regarding the use of prepaid debit cards like True Link with Special Needs Trusts. This marks the first tim
67 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- May 3, 2018
- 3 min
Can I pay for travel expenses out of a Special Needs Trust? Can I pay for Companion Care?
A frequent question I get as a special needs planner is “Can I pay for travel expenses out of a Special Needs Trust? What about companion ca
1,825 views0 comments
erickearney
- May 1, 2018
- 3 min
Highlights From the New POMS
Special Needs Planners are excited about the new POMS that the Social Security Administration released regarding Special Needs Trusts. Learn
255 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- May 1, 2018
- 1 min
New SSA POMS on Special Needs Trusts Issued
New guidance from Social Security Administration regarding Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) has issued. Take a look at the provisions.
86 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- May 1, 2018
- 2 min
What Assets Are Not Counted When Applying for SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that helps people with disabilities and very low incomes pay for food, clothing...
37 views0 comments
erickearney
- Apr 3, 2018
- 1 min
Social Security Administration Updates SSI Resource List to Include SNTs and ABLE Accounts
The Social Security Administration’s Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) website is a recently updated reference for...
58 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Nov 3, 2017
- 2 min
ABLE account aggregate annual contribution raised to $15,000 nationally
The IRS has confirmed an increase to Section 2503, the federal gift tax exclusion. Section 529A(a)(2) of the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Be
26 views0 comments
erickearney
- Oct 8, 2017
- 2 min
Key Decisions in Setting Up a Special Needs Trust - Who will be the Trustee?
Simply defined, a trust is an agreement between two people -- a grantor who donates funds to the trust and a trustee who manages those...
50 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Sep 13, 2017
- 1 min
CMS Guidance on ABLE Accounts
At long last the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had provided guidance to states on how to treat “ABLE” accounts in...
111 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Aug 3, 2017
- 2 min
Is There a Difference Between "Supplemental" and "Special" Needs Trusts?
You may have heard the terms "special" needs trust and "supplemental" needs trust and wondered what the difference is. T
53 views0 comments
Eric Kearney
- Dec 13, 2016
- 1 min
Special Needs Fairness Act Passes
The Special Needs Fairness Act has been signed into law as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. Competent disabled individuals can now establ
36 views0 comments
erickearney
- Dec 8, 2016
- 1 min
Progress on the SNT Fairness Act
The Senate approved H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, by a vote of 94 to 5. The...
12 views0 comments
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