Special Needs Trusts in Missouri: Protect Government Benefits and Plan with Peace of Mind
Families in Missouri caring for a loved one with a disability often face the difficult challenge of planning for their future without disrupting critical public benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Even modest gifts or inheritances can unintentionally disqualify someone from these essential programs.
A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a legally recognized way to set aside money or property to enhance a person’s quality of life without disqualifying them from means-tested benefits.
At Hannam Law, we help Missouri families create and manage Special Needs Trusts tailored to their specific needs and goals. We guide you through the options:
Types of Special Needs Trusts:
First-Party Special Needs TrustFunded with the beneficiary’s own assets (e.g., from a personal injury settlement or inheritance). Required to include a Medicaid payback provision upon the beneficiary’s death.
Third-Party Special Needs TrustFunded by someone else—typically parents or grandparents—as part of an estate plan. This trust does not require a Medicaid payback and can direct remaining funds to other heirs.
Pooled TrustManaged by a nonprofit organization, a pooled...