Unbound Disability Claims, Inc’s Post

What is Social Security Disability “SSDI”? This Social Security program pays people who are disabled up to $3,822 per month and after 24 months of eligibility, will give you access to Medicare. To qualify, you need to have paid in enough work credits. The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when your disability begins. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year your disability begins. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. If you have additional questions about this program or want to know if you may qualify, give us a call at 832-761-7773.

I used to think Pooled Trusts were only for those with smaller accounts who couldn't "qualify" to be served by large Trust companies and banks. This was reinforced by what I saw when I was a Financial Planner. Most, if not all, of what I saw was clients being directed to work with an Estate Planning attorney (or Elder Law / Special Needs) to set up a Trust and then find a Trustee. After serving on the Board of (2) Pooled Trusts, shout out to Shared Horizons, Inc. and FIRST MARYLAND DISABILITY TRUST INC I began to change my mind. After all, if individuals with personal injury settlements in the millions can put their money into a Pooled Trust (and more often than not will), why can't parents of children with disabilities? And then I interviewed Lisa A. Cohen, Founder of Visible National Trust. Her vision of starting from the ground up and designing a "tool" that would be easy for Financial Advisors and families to use flipped a switch for me. The challenge all along has been how Pooled Trusts were marketed. Visible National Trust is a new kind of resource for families like mine, so I merged True North Disability Planning (Visible National Trust) with them. By design, we "plug in" very well with the planning done by Wealth Advisors, especially those who are not "Special Needs" experts. These Wealth Advisors can now "tap into" my experience, knowledge, resources, and tools when they partner with Visible. I'm very excited to see where the future takes us. Disability planning is getting more attention. There is much more awareness of what caregivers are going through and how much they are struggling. I'm proud to have joined a company whose mission and vision are all about bringing equality in future planning to families like mine! Link to my interview with Lisa in the comments.

Tip of the Day: Understand Social Security Disability Income (SSDI); OR Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB)- NOT to be confused with Social Security Income (SSI), which is NOT an entitlement benefit! People can get SSDI in two ways. 1. Either the person with a disability has worked enough years to qualify and paid Social Security taxes during the years they worked, referred to as SSDI, OR 2. One could piggyback on to a parent’s records and receive something referred to as “Childhood Disability Benefits” (CDB). CDB will enable a person who is disabled to receive up to 75% of their parent’s social security; 50% if the parent retires or becomes disabled themselves and 75% if such parent dies. To qualify for CDB, the child should qualify as a “Disabled Adult Child” (DAC). That child would be able to piggyback on their parent’s work records. A DAC starts to receive the benefits when their parent starts to receive the benefits.

After a week of seeing exciting posts from new and old friends at #lawbizcon2024 I’ve finally got a minute to share something important to me coming out of the conference. (Note: follow Caralee Fontenele to keep your eyes peeled for 2025 ticket sales, I already have mine). Without a doubt Dinesh Palipana OAM was my favourite speaker. What a story teller, and what a story. Wow, please follow Dinesh if you aren’t already and as I have done buy his book, Stronger (also available in audio book version) to learn more. Dinesh is an emergency department doctor, a lawyer, and a disability advocate as he is a wheelchair user himself having acquired a spinal cord injury as a young adult. I had a few precious minutes to connect with Dinesh after his keynote. We talked about our shared love for our remarkable mothers 🥰, and my privilege to work with families who have a child (or significant person like a sibling, grandchild, niece or nephew) (young or adult) living with a disability and the importance of learning more about how I can help these families to ensure their wills and estate plans find the balance between protecting these beneficiaries (as I do in all of my planning) and not infantilising these individuals living with a disability. I am already working with a young disability advocate, but there is much to learn and many experiences to consider and benefit from. So for me the action that I have been inspired to take after the conference is market research. If you are a parent (or person who might include a person with a disability in your own will because of another significant relationship such as partner or spouse, grandparent, aunt / uncle, or sibling) please use this link to share your thoughts- https://lnkd.in/g2z6ahjs If you are a person living with a disability and would like to share your considerations, please use this link- https://lnkd.in/gaJPhM_U Links shared again in comments :)

"To receive the benefit in 2024, a person with a disability generally must earn less than $1,971 per month and have no more than $2,000 in assets. The income limits are a calculation of what someone in a particular financial situation needs to make ends meet. But the asset limitation for S.S.I. recipients hasn’t been adjusted since 1989, and marriage between two S.S.I. beneficiaries results in a devastating decrease in financial support. In 2024, an individual may receive up to $943 in federal S.S.I. a month, but a married couple may receive only $1,415 and must have less than $3,000 in assets. "Marriage penalties derive from the assumption that when two people live together, their expenses are shared. And it’s true that some expenses — like rent and household utilities — may be reduced in those circumstances. But the amount people with disabilities receive from S.S.I., even single people, is now too low to cover the basic needs of modern life. "In March, 7.4 million people collected S.S.I. benefits; 84 percent of them were eligible because of a disability. Rather than keeping people with disabilities above the poverty line, S.S.I. restrictions are preventing them from leading independent lives and marrying. S.S.I. asset and income limits need to be raised and marriage penalties should be eliminated."

All families need rest to thrive. But for families living with disability, opportunities for rest can be scarce. Karen and Chad have two children: seven-year-old Claire and 10-year-old Eli, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Caring for the ongoing daily needs of their children, Chad and Karen struggle to prioritize their marriage and find rest. “Getting a break is not easy for the parents of children with special needs," Karen said. "You can’t just leave your child with anyone—you need to find someone who understands the challenges of disability, and who knows what to do in a medical situation." "It’s hard for any couple to find time to focus on their marriage after they have children. But that dynamic is compounded by disability and needs," she said. Partnering with churches, Joni and Friends offers respite programs for families navigating disability—like Halftime Respite. During Halftime Respite, children with disabilities and their siblings enjoy three hours of Christ-centered fun while their parents receive the gifts of time and rest knowing that their children are well cared for and having fun.  Eli loves playing games and he loves people! At Halftime Respite, Eli and his sister experience the joy of having fun while meeting new people and feeling God’s love.  Respite also allows parents to foster healthy marriages, which in turn equips them to better support their children. Parents can avoid burnout when they have time to care for their own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Learn more about the power of respite care: https://lnkd.in/emAYMsjq #Disability #Church #Faith #Respite #Marriage

When Jack lost his life following the NDIA's sudden change to his support plan, it was supposed to be a wake-up call to our leaders. The disability community had been raising concerns for years about the dangers of removing choice and control from participants, yet Jack’s story was a heartbreaking confirmation of their fears. Now, Kevin—a close friend of Jack’s and another person with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)—is living in fear. For over a year, Kevin has been denied the 1:1 support that would allow him to live safely and independently. Instead of receiving the care he urgently needs, he is being left at risk—just as Jack was. In the face of this systemic neglect, I’ve written another open letter to Minister Bill Shorten, calling for immediate action. The NDIS must return to its core mission: to protect the lives of people with disabilities, not place them in harm’s way. It saddens me deeply to write this again so soon after Jack’s death, but I feel I have no choice. With permission from both Kevin and Jack’s family, I’m sharing their stories to make sure their voices are heard. Please read, share, and help amplify this message—before more lives are lost. Sign the petition to help ensure no one else has to face these risks: change.org/listentojack ID: Kev (top left), Jack (top right), Tahlia (middle left), Izzi (middle right), and Arnijka (bottom) are posing together, looking at the camera during a community social event in Cabarita, enjoying their time together. #listentojack #ndis #ndia #choiceandcontrol #billshorten #disability #disabilityrights

Discover how the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) offers long-term financial security for individuals with disabilities. Maximize savings with tax-deferred growth and government contributions. #FinancialPlanning #DisabilitySupport

Discover how the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) offers long-term financial security for individuals with disabilities. Maximize savings with tax-deferred growth and government contributions. #FinancialPlanning #DisabilitySupport

Should estate planning be different for beneficiaries with a disability? What is a Henson Trust (or disability trust) and is it right for your unique situation? An important purpose of estate planning is to sure that loved ones are financially cared for after a person's passing. This goal can become more important, as well as more complex, when one or more beneficiaries has special needs which require particular financial planning and protection. A lack of proper planning may lead to mismanagement of the inherited assets, barriers to accessing the assets or a loss of government disability support benefits upon receipt of the inheritance. While each situation is unique, there are some common estate planning tools which can be used to provide for beneficiaries with disabilities. Have questions? Schedule an introductory Zoom meeting: https://lnkd.in/gC9Bbmjg Want to learn more? Click the link below #executors #powersofattorney #solustrust #trustcompany #trustees