Will your child be cared for when you no longer can? See what their financial future requires, and how to fund it.
Why Planning Matters
It's the question every special needs parent carries. The answer depends on the decisions you make now. One small misstep, like leaving money directly to your child, can erase their SSI and Medicaid overnight. Good planning is how you turn love into lasting security, so the life you've built for them continues just as you intended.
An Illustrative Example
Parents in their early fifties · A daughter, eighteen, with autism · Georgia
Their goal was simple: make sure their daughter's care would be funded for life, even if both of them were gone.
The Projection
Between an existing policy, an ABLE account, and savings, about $1.3 million was already in place, leaving roughly $1.7 million still needed.
The Plan
Working alongside the family's attorney and advisor, that gap was closed with:
The result was peace of mind, knowing that if both of them were gone, the funds to care for her would be there.
A hypothetical illustration for educational purposes. Every family's situation is different, and results vary.
Every family's situation is different. See what the numbers look like for yours.
Life insurance helps ensure a child's long-term care and financial security after a parent or caregiver passes away. The death benefit can fund a Special Needs Trust, providing ongoing support without affecting the child's eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid or SSI.
Read MoreA Special Needs Trust is a legal tool that holds money for a person with a disability without affecting their eligibility for government benefits. It helps cover extra expenses like housing, therapy, and recreation while protecting access to programs like Medicaid and SSI.
Read MoreA Letter of Intent is a non-legal document that guides future caregivers of a person with special needs. It shares important details about the individual's daily routine, medical needs, preferences, and family values to help ensure consistent, personalized care.
Read MoreSupplemental Security Income is a federal program that provides monthly payments to individuals with disabilities who have limited income and resources. It helps cover basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, and is often essential for families caring for a child with special needs.
Read MoreAn ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings account for individuals with disabilities. It allows them to save for qualified expenses like housing, education, and transportation without losing eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid or SSI.
Read MoreMedicaid is a government program that provides essential healthcare coverage for individuals with disabilities. It helps cover costs like doctor visits, hospital care, therapy, and long-term support services, making it a vital resource for many special needs families.
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Meet Lou Dondero
When my nephew Benjamin was diagnosed with autism, I watched his mother carry all of it on her own, and it changed the way I saw my work. For more than 20 years I've helped families, advisors, attorneys, and trustees protect what they're leaving for the people they love. I built Special Legacy so no parent has to wonder what happens to their child after they're gone.
I work with a limited number of families at a time, so every plan gets the depth it deserves. If you're ready to put a serious plan in place, tell me a little about your family and I'll personally reach out within one business day.