The My Choice Supplemental Needs Community Trust
The My Choice Community Trust mission is to protect and provide resources to assist people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities in living their most healthy and meaningful lives, by safeguarding their assets for personal use and enjoyment, enabling them to qualify for and maintain eligibility for “means-tested” government benefits.
WHAT IS IT?
The My Choice Trust is a Community, also known as a Pooled, Supplemental Needs Trust. It is a way to hold excess resources, above the limit for government benefits like SSI or Medicaid, in an account for personal use, without impacting eligibility for these government benefits.
WHO MIGHT USE IT?
One who wishes to apply for government benefits such as NYS Medicaid or SSI but fears they do not qualify due to restrictive income and asset caps.
Or one who may already have these benefits but fears they may be at risk of losing them due to an expected influx of assets such as an inheritance, settlement, or retroactive benefits payment.
Sheltering funds in a Community Trust enables one to meet the restrictive financial limitations of government benefits, while still retaining these funds to supplement what benefits cover.
WHAT TYPES OF EXPENSES CAN BE PAID BY THE TRUST?
Opening a My Choice Trust account would enable you or your loved one in this situation to hold the funds in the account for personal use to supplement your benefits. A few examples…
- Out-of-pocket medical or dental costs
- Personal caregivers
- Rehabilitation services
- Education
- Vacations
- Camps and other recreational events