Using Pooled Trust Funds
State Medicaid rules and federal law are used to determine what is categorized as allowable, discretionary, non-support or supplemental, special needs. Monies from the Trust are never used for support, maintenance or primary medical. The Settlement Solutions National Pooled Trust is designed to allow money to be put aside for the supplemental needs of a person with a disability.
Primary Rules
1. The request must be for the sole benefit of the trust beneficiary
2. The trustee can’t give the trust beneficiary cash
The following examples are not all inclusive, but illustrate the types of special, supplemental, non-support disbursements that are appropriate for the Trustee to make on behalf of the trust beneficiary.
Personal Services:
Cable TV, cell phone, internet, maid, insurance, transportation, entertainment, pet grooming, travel expenses, rehabilitation, tuition, music lessons, massage, seminars, movies, sporting events
Personal Care:
Hair care, eye and dental care, attendant care
Professional Services:
auto repair/maintenance, attorney/accountant/financial planning fees, home modifications/home improvements related to disability
Goods:
Vehicles, clothing, furniture, television/stereo, mattress/box springs, eyeglasses/contacts, vacations, hobby supplies, toys, essential dietary needs, computers/software, pets/pet supplies, prepaid funeral expenses (Amount varies by state), washer/dryer, musical instrument, household products, tools/supplies, kitchen appliances, outdoor grill, games, school tuition, gasoline, household appliances
Remember: The Trust can purchase any good and service that adds to the trust beneficiary’s quality of life, and are not paid for by public benefits.
Caution: this list is just a guide; each state has differences in what they allow from your trust.
Non-Exclusive List of Permissible Trust Distributions
- Automobile/Van
- Accounting services
- Acupuncture/Acupressure
- Appliances (TV, VCR, stereo, microwave, stove, refrigerator)
- Bottled water or water service
- Bus pass/public transportation costs
- Camera, film, recorder and tapes, development of film
- Clubs and club dues (record clubs, book clubs, health clubs, service clubs, zoo, advocacy groups, museums)
- Computer hardware, software, programs, and Internet service
- Conferences
- Courses or classes (academic or recreational) including supplies
- Curtain, blinds, drapes, and the like
- Dental work not covered by Medicaid, including anesthesia
- Down payment on home or security deposit on apartment
- Dry cleaning and/or laundry services
- Elective surgery
- Fitness equipment
- Funeral expenses
- Furniture, home furnishings
- Gasoline and/or maintenance for automobile
- Haircuts/salon services
- Holiday decorations, parties, dinner dances, holiday cards
- Home alarm and/or monitoring/response system
- Home improvements, repairs, and maintenance (not covered by Medicaid) including tools to perform home improvements, repairs, and maintenance by homeowner
- House cleaning/maid services
- Insurance (automobile and/or possessions)
- Laundry service or washer/dryer
- Legal fees/advocacy
- Linens and towels
- Massage
- Musical instruments (including lessons and music)
- Non-food grocery items (laundry soap, bleach, fabric softener, deodorant, dish soap, hand and body soap, personal hygiene products, paper towels, napkins, Kleenex, toilet paper, any household cleaning products)
- Over-the-counter medications (including vitamins and herbs, etc.)
- Personal assistance services not covered by Medicaid
- Pet and pet supplies, veterinary services
- Physicians specialists if not covered by Medicaid
- Private counseling if not covered by Medicaid
- Repair services (appliance, automobile, bicycle, household, fitness equipment)
- Snow removal/landscaping/lawn service
- Sporting goods/equipment/uniforms/team pictures
- Stationary, stamps, cards, etc.
- Storage units
- Taxicab
- Telephone service and equipment, including cell phone, pager, etc.
- Therapy (physical, occupational, speech) not covered by Medicaid
- Tickets to concerts or sporting events for beneficiary (and an accompanying companion)
- Transportation (automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, moped gas, bus passes)
- Some Utility bills ( such as direct TV, cable TV, phone)
- Vacation (including paying for personal assistance to accompany the beneficiary)
- Clothing
Examples of Trust Distributions That Will Reduce/Eliminate SSI Benefits
- Paying for basic shelter-related expenses
- Paying for food
- Cash distributions to the beneficiary
- Paying for a service already paid for by another source
- Distribution not for the beneficiary (i.e., made primarily for the benefit of another person)