More on Special Needs Trusts from the Social Security Administration
We have a few more nuggets from the head of Program Policy at the Office of Income Security Programs at the Social Security Administration, Eric Skidmore. Mr. Skidmore participated via webcam at the Stetson College of Law’s Special Needs Trust National Conference on Friday, October 19, 2012. There was a reaffirmation that a Special Needs Trust (SNT) cannot reimburse any person directly for expenses incurred on behalf of a SNT beneficiary that is receiving SSI benefits. This would be considered in-kind income to the beneficiary and thus reduce SSI dollar-for-dollar. Two other issues that were explored in more depth were the payments to family caregivers out of a SNT and the use of funds in a SNT to pay back an overpayment to the Social Security Administration (SSA). First, Mr. Skidmore clarified that the agency is not changing or adopting any new policies regarding payment of family caregivers. There are no formal requirements that family members have any special trai