WILLS & ESTATE PLANNING

If your relative qualifies for SSI benefits, it is very important for the family to plan ahead. Because a person's eligibility for these programs is based on personal income, SSI and Medicaid benefits can be lost if the family members don’t do adequate estate planning. If a person receiving SSI benefits inherits money, he can lose his benefits, even if the inheritance is small. To prevent this from happening, some families have:

• Drawn up a will, which disqualifies the family member from receiving any of the inheritance.
• Set up a trust fund with another relative who acts as a trustee. A trust fund can also be set up where another relative and a financial institution act as co-trustees. The trust fund needs to be set up so that the money can’t be used for basic living costs.

The lawyer you choose should have experience in wills and trusts. You can get the name of a lawyer by calling a Lawyer Referral Service (in your phone book)