Special Needs Benefits Analysis &   Management

The three main government benefits for people with special needs are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid (called MassHealth in Massachusetts).  On top of these programs, there are a variety of housing, educational, and veterans programs available for people with special needs.  Unfortunately, figuring out exactly what benefits your family member may have, and how those benefits work, can be confusing.  That’s where Brown & Brown can help.

As part of any special needs plan, we sit down with our clients and review exactly what benefits they or their loved ones are receiving.  For programs like SSI and MassHealth, clients must meet very stringent income and asset limits in order to maintain their benefits - we can outline the best way to meet these requirements.  In other cases, monetary benefits from one program, like SSDI, may disqualify or reduce benefits provided by another program, like SSI.  We can help you to determine which benefits are the most important, and we can often find the appropriate balance between programs.  On top of that, we may be able to help you or a loved one apply for new benefits that you might not know about, or have had a hard time receiving.

The benefits analysis is only a starting point for a long-term relationship.  Once we have evaluated your family’s needs, we work with you over the years when you need help managing your hard-won government benefits.  If unforeseen difficulties come up, we can assist you with filing an appeal or working towards a new goal.  We can also help you or another family set up an appropriate estate plan that leaves funds for your loved one with special needs in a way that allows him or her to qualify for benefits and receive the additional services that he or she needs to live comfortably.