Tag Archives: future planning

State University Retirement System (SURS) Pension Requirements for Beneficiaries With Special Needs

This article is for State University Retirement System (SURS) participants who want to learn how to use their SURS retirement benefits to provide for a loved one with special needs. While it may seem like a simple process, ensuring that …
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How To Ensure Your State Employees Retirement System (SERS) Pension Will Benefit Someone With Special Needs

Employees who perform services for the State of Illinois are eligible for retirement benefits under the State Employees Retirement System (SERS). Participants in the SERS program receive pension payments upon retirement and can name beneficiaries who will receive financial payments …
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Understanding Basic Terms Involved in Special Needs Care and Planning – Part I

At Rubin Law, we are proud to provide legal services exclusively limited to special needs planning including the areas of Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Probate Law for families of adults and children with special needs. In this very specific area …
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Is It Ever “Too Late” to Start Future Planning for Your Child?

Is It Ever Too Late to Start Future Planning for Your Child?

Your child with special needs is becoming a teenager, or is about to turn 18, or is an adult living independently. No matter how old your child is now, you may wonder if it is “too late” to start future …
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Taking Over Care for an Older Relative with Special Needs

Taking Over Care for an Older Relative with Special Needs

When you first take over care for an older relative with special needs, you will have a steep learning curve. You will need to figure out everything from benefits to estate planning for your relative. Here are a few places …
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Why to Future Plan for Yourself, Not Just Your Child with Special Needs

Why to Future Plan for Yourself, Not Just Your Child with Special Needs

When you have a child with special needs, there is so little time to think about the future. You are constantly busy caring for and advocating for your child. Despite your full schedule, you need to make time to do …
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Worried About Affording Long-Term Care? How Future Planning for Your Child With Special Needs Can Help YOU Pay for Long-Term Care for Yourself

Worried About Affording Long-Term Care How Future Planning for Your Child With Special Needs Can Help YOU Pay for Long-Term Care for Yourself?

If you are thinking about buying long-term care insurance or are still on the fence, you should consider beginning future planning for your child too. Doing some future planning can help you provide for your child and pay for your …
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How to Gather Information to Include in a Letter of Intent

How to Gather Information to Include in a Letter of Intent

You read online or heard from your lawyer that you should write a “letter of intent” for your child with special needs. But you have no idea where to start. Your daily life is busy and sometimes chaotic, and sitting …
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Top 5 Reasons to Start Future Planning Today

Top 5 Reasons to Start Future Planning Today

If you are hesitant about starting your future planning now, here are five reasons not to delay. Even if you have just learned that your child has special needs, it is never too early to make a plan. There’s No …
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What You Need to Know Before Your Child with Special Needs Turns 18

What You Need to Know Before Your Child with Special Needs Turns 18

Don’t wait until your child with special needs turns age 18 to begin planning. Becoming a legal adult leads to many changes in available benefits, needs, and your ability to act on your child’s behalf. Here are just a few …
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Special Needs Future Planning When Future Health Care Funding Is Uncertain

Special Needs Future Planning When Future Health Care Funding Is Uncertain

Parents of children with special needs, advocates, and care providers have followed recent news about health care funding with worry , because health care funding proposals would cut Medicaid funding by 25 percent or more. While lawmakers in Washington have not passed …
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What Is a Letter of Intent?

What Is a Letter of Intent?

Advocates for people with special needs often talk about writing a “letter of intent” for your family member’s care. What exactly is a letter of intent? What should you include in your letter? Here are a few suggestions. Every letter …
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Estate Planning for Your Extended Family

Estate Planning for Your Extended Family

When estate planning for your family’s future, don’t forget that extended family members may need to change their plans too if they want to help your child with special needs. This article described some common situations that arise when well-meaning relatives …
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Risks of Leaving Your Estate to Your Special Needs Child’s Sibling

Risks of Leaving Your Estate to Your Special Needs Child's Sibling

When making your estate plan, be aware that there are substantial risks to leaving your estate to the sibling of your child with special needs. Sometimes, doing so seems like the least complicated solution – the sibling can use funds …
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Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts: How They Work

Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts How They Work

Irrevocable life insurance trusts (“ILIT”) can be one part of future planning for individuals with special needs. Like other future planning methods, people planning to use an ILIT as part of their plan should learn about important provisions to include …
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Why Our Firm Only Practices in the Area of Special Needs Planning

Why Our Firm Only Practices in the Area of Special Needs Planning

From our personal experience, we know that families who are planning for their special needs relatives’ futures need strong advocates to advise them. Brian Rubin began to dedicate his legal practice to special needs planning after the birth of his …
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