Children with Special Needs Archives | Grady H. Williams, Jr. LL.M, Attorneys at Law

Category archives: Children with Special Needs

Pooled Trusts: Should You Consider Taking a Dip?
6 years ago
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 many people with special needs are “pooled.” This kind of trust, called a pooled or (d)(4)(C) trust, may be a better option for some people than the conventional SN... [read more]

Survey Ranks Nearly 200 Cities on Friendliness to People with Special Needs
6 years ago
When people with disabilities and their families are considering a particular urban area, numerous factors come into play. Does the city provide accessible amenities, such as sidewalks, transportation, entertainment options, and parks? Is affordable housing available, and is this housing economical ... [read more]

IRA Distributions to SNTs: Minimizing Income Taxes
6 years ago
For many parents, the majority of their savings is held in some kind of a retirement account, often an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). At age 70 1/2, an IRA account holder faces the Required Beginning Date, when he or she must take mandatory distributions from the IRA. These payments are determ... [read more]

2018 Midterms Raise Accessibility Concerns
6 years ago
As the midterm elections approach, disability rights advocates are concerned about whether all eligible voters with disabilities will, in fact, have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. About 35 million eligible voters in the U.S. have a disability – close to one in six. Although ... [read more]

Audit Finds That Thousands of SSI Recipients Have Been Overpaid
7 years ago
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines that a person with disabilities is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, the decision is not necessarily permanent. Depending on the circumstance, the SSA will either regularly or semi-regularly re-examine the person’s elig... [read more]

Grady H. Williams, Jr., LL.M., Attorneys at Law, P.A. Open Local Office in Julington Creek
7 years ago
To better serve our clients and their families who live or work in Julington Creek, St. Johns, Fruit Cove, Switzerland, Orangedale, Mandarin, and surrounding areas, we have opened a local office conveniently located in the Julington Creek Business Park at 12627 San Jose Boulevard, Suite 102-A, Jacks... [read more]

Are State ABLE Programs Sustainable? Disability Advocates Raise Concerns
7 years ago
In the past two years, nearly every state in the country has passed legislation enabling people with disabilities and their families to open new savings accounts, modeled after popular 529 college savings plans, to save for disability related expenses. But early projections indicate that many of ... [read more]

SSA Liberalizes Rules on When Special Needs Trusts Can Reimburse Family Members for Travel
7 years ago
Travel is sometimes necessary when a family has a child with special needs. Family members may need to visit the person with special needs, or a medical emergency may require travel to care for the loved one, or the family may simply want to take the child with special needs on vacation. For... [read more]

Lawsuit Targets Education Department’s Handling of Discrimination Claims
7 years ago
Each year, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) receives tens of thousands of discrimination complaints, of which disability discrimination is by far the largest category. For example, complaints can allege that students with disabilities are not being given accessible textbooks, are being denied ... [read more]

Is Your Child Eligible for Childhood Disabled Beneficiary Benefits?
7 years ago
Understanding what benefits might be available to your child or loved one with special needs can be confusing. Different benefits apply in different circumstances, and sometimes different benefit programs can work together to help meet the needs of an individual. Childhood disabled beneficiary bene... [read more]

The Importance of Special Needs Trusts
7 years ago
Special Needs Trusts are an important part of Estate Planning for clients whose family members have disabilities or chronic illness. A Special Needs Trust (also referred to as a Supplemental Needs Trust) helps beneficiaries receive their inheritance while also following important guidelines regardin... [read more]

What Assets Are Not Counted When Applying for SSI?
7 years ago
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that helps people with disabilities and very low incomes pay for food, clothing and shelter. SSI is often confused with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). One of the main differences between the two programs is that SSDI is available ... [read more]