For families of loved ones with special needs, ensuring the day-to-day needs of their child, spouse or sibling are met has been their life’s work. But they often don’t plan for how the academic, emotional, financial and physical support they provide will continue after they, the primary caregivers, are gone.

There are unique challenges that a disability brings to the estate planning process. Consulting with an attorney familiar with special needs trusts and disability benefits will help ensure that clients have done everything possible to provide for their child with disabilities while protecting eligibility.

A person with a physical or cognitive disability may qualify for taxpayer-sponsored public benefits or privately funded benefits to support their living expenses, since they may be unable to work or gain full employment due to a disability. These public benefits are means tested, meaning that to apply (or re-apply) for them is a drawn-out process.

Families that plan on leaving an inheritance to loved ones with special needs should be aware that such gifts could jeopardize other vital benefits that the individual receives. Leaving money, retirement accounts or other assets directly could disqualify the beneficiary from receiving government benefits.

The time your clients take to carefully plan with a qualified estate planning attorney who is familiar with special needs trusts and disability benefits can improve their disabled child’s life and bring them peace of mind.

When engaging this market, it is extremely important that you network, build and maintain relationships with your Centers of Influence, including estate planning attorneys, CPAs and other professionals that work with special needs families. Once you decide to enter this market, use our resources to engage new clients.

Now that you have collected the necessary information, you can design the appropriate financial strategy to fit your clients’ needs.