Disability Financial Planning Information/Articles
About.com Parenting Special Needs Financial/Insurance
The Basics How to provide for a disabled child (MSN MoneyCentral Family article by Randy Neumann)
Beyond the Statutes: Courts Add Criteria for Supplemental Needs Trusts
The Family Village Estate Planning & Special Needs Trusts
Financial Planning: Articles On Exceptional Parent Site. The Do's and Don'ts of Planning for your Grandchild with Special Needs. by David Harmon, MBA, MSW David Harmon is the Manager, MetDESK, Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids, Metropolitan Life. Mr. Harmon is a parent of a child with special needs
Financial Planning: four part series (The purpose of this four-part series is to give families the knowledge and the tools they need to plan for the future of a child with a disability. This information can assist you regardless of your child’s age or disability. )
Hallex (The Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law Manual, from the Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) of the Social Security Administration, conveys guiding principles, procedural guidance and information to OHA staff. Hallex includes policy statements resulting from an Appeals Council en banc meeting under the authority of the Appeals Council Chair. Hallex also defines procedures for carrying out policy and provides guidance for processing and adjudicating claims at the Hearing, Appeals Council and Civil Action levels.)
Life Advice Library - Special Needs Trusts (This is the MetLife Insurance site but this page has some good information on it)
Life Planning Exceptional Parent
List of Disabling Impairments (Listings of impairments which are considered to be disabling. To the left you will find the headings for the Adult Listings. Child Listings are to the right.) (Check this out!!)
National Special Needs Network (A Creative and Viable Alternative to Uncertainty A full range of services for the individual with special needs and professionals serving the special needs community Individuals with developmental or acquired disabilities, mental illnesses, and chronic medical conditions.) (Includes a description of what a "Special Needs Trust" is, lots of financial and planning information)
NICHCY Estate Planning The Special Needs Trust (by Richard W. Fee, M.A., M.Ed National Institute on Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities)
Providing For A Lifetime Of Needs Through Supplemental Needs Trust Funds (An Article on Coma Recovery Association page)
SCHEDULE "A" TO SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST Morales Supplemental Needs Trust
SEVERE Social Security Disability Benefits Law Information and Resources (SEVERE is maintained by David A. Bryant & Associates , attorneys concentrating in Social Security Disability Benefits Law.) (This is a VERY GOOD site with tons of information and assistance. Make sure to go to the Hallex and Listings hyperlinks at the top of the page header!!)
Steven W. Dale & Associates Disability Subjects (They have done a nice job explaining things and have several subjects to check out)
Supplemental Needs Trusts for Disabled Persons (A large explanatory article by David Goldfarb)
Using a "Special Needs Trust" to Manage the Inheritance of a Disabled Beneficiary and Preserve Sources of Public Assistance (See attached Sample Special Needs Trust Provisions)
Insurance
Are your children eligible for federal health insurance? These resources give information on The Childrens Health Insurance Plan
Autism Society Health Insurance Information
KUNIN v. BENEFIT TRUST LIFE INS. CO., 910 F.2d 534 (9th Cir. 1990) (Benefit Trust Life Insurance Company ("Benefit Trust") appeals the decision of the district court awarding benefits to Daniel Kunin ("Kunin"). Kunin, the Senior Vice-President of Maxim's Beauty Salons, Inc., incurred over $50,000 in medical bills for the treatment of his child for autism. Kunin sought reimbursement of his expenses under a group health insurance policy issued to his employer; the parties agree that this policy is itself an "employee welfare benefit plan" governed by ERISA, and that Benefit Trust functioned as both insurer and plan administrator. Following a brief investigation, Benefit Trust agreed to pay $10,000, but no more, on the ground that autism fell within the policy's limitation for "mental illness." The district court concluded that autism is not a mental illness and that the denial of benefits was arbitrary and capricious, and ordered that the claim be paid in full. We agree that Benefit Trust was obligated to pay the full amount of the claim)