SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS (SNT)

A  Special Needs Trust can be established to hold resources provided to your child through gifts or bequests from family members or friends. The SNT offers a reliable way of safeguarding eligibility for government benefits, while at the same time allowing for additional benefits not provided by the government.

The main benefit of an SNT is the ability to use trust assets to give individuals with special needs “non-necessity” items that would not be available through government benefits. The trust allows funds to be used to make the beneficiary’s life better by providing benefits other than the bare necessities of life. These may include activities such as vacations, sporting event tickets, and items that make the beneficiary’s life easier, such as a ramp or chair lift and transportation to various events or cultural institutions.

Download our brochure Planning for your Special Needs Child and also get tips on the ten mistakes to avoid when planning for a loved one with special needs.