What can a Special Needs Trust or a Pooled Disability Trust pay for?
When the person with a disability is receiving SSI, a trust normally cannot pay for food or shelter. Trusts are set up to provide services and items that do not jeopardize means tested benefits. Funds cannot be paid directly to the beneficiary but to a vendor. Broad categories of expenditures include health care needs not covered by Medicaid, education, recreation and material needs that provide comfort. To give some examples, disbursements can be written for eye glasses, hearing aids, a wheel chair, movie tickets, computer, vacation with an aid if necessary and more. When the Trust is funded and disbursements are made the appropriate public agency is notified. Funds can be accessed once the trust is funded.
