Middle Ground Alternatives

How do you determine if one or more of these alternatives are appropriate?

• Has the person recently been diagnosed with a serious illness – particularly one that is expected to cause declines in mental and physical health?

• Does the person currently have the capacity to make-informed decisions and communicate wishes for future health care, mental health treatment, and/or financial arrangements? If the answer is yes to both questions, advance planning is necessary and should be started as soon as possible.

• Has the person recently come into funds from a third party source, such as a legal settlement, inheritance, gift from friends or family, insurance proceeds, or Social Security back payments?

If so, establishing a special needs trust could protect these funds without jeopardizing an adult’s eligibility for public benefits.

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