New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.

Financial Assistance
Financial Planning
Government Benefits

This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited staff, assists people with disabilities with the financial options of buying a home. The financial burden of buying a home can be very complicated for people with disabilities. People with disabilities face unique needs and issues. Due to the recognition that home buying and new legislation can help to solve the housing crises, there are many emerging programs designed to provide a systematic and strategic approach to offer homeownership financial opportunities to people with disabilities.

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Financial Planning

This four-part series, written by disability professionals and advocates is designed to give families the knowledge and the tools they need to plan for the future of a child with a disability. This information can assist you regardless of your child’s age or disability. It will take you through a comprehensive planning process.

Guide to Special Needs Trusts

This guide, written by the ARC of the United States, explains the basics of a Special Needs Trust and how it can benefit your family member with a disability. "Supplemental Needs or Special Needs Trusts (SNTs), preserve government benefit eligibility and leave assets that will meet the supplemental needs of the person with a disability - those that go beyond food, shelter, and clothing and the medical and long term supports and services of Medicaid." This is a must read guide, particularly for family members of people with developmental disabilities.

Make the Most of Your Money

This easy to follow, 64-page guide, provided by The ARC, will help self-advocates manage their own money. They will learn about banks, checking accounts, debit cards, paying bills, spending traps and saving money. To obtain this guide, visit The ARC online.

Now and the Future: Resource Planning Guide for Persons with Disabilities and their Families

This guide, written by the Office of the Governor South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, offers information on issues relating to planning for the financial wellbeing of persons with disabilities. This guide touches on guardianships, wills, trusts, life insurance, health insurance, government benefits and military benefits. It also talks about the importance of developing an information notebook, with items such as your child's personal file, your personal checklist, your estate inventory, any funeral or burial arrangements and any other information that you feel would help someone else in assisting your son or daughter with a disability. While this guide does offer resources specific to South Carolina, much of the guide would be beneficial for those in other states as well.

Pooled Trust Programs for People with Disabilities: A Guide for Families

Produced by The ARC, this 17-page guide will help families of people with disabilities understand how pooled trusts work and how they might be able to benefit their family member.

Sample Language for Supplemental Needs Trusts

Written by Attorney Roy Froemming, this guide assists families in developing a trust for a family member with a disability. The guide begins by defining important terms and goes in depth into creating trusts, discussing revocability issues, distribution issues, homeownership issues, the appointment of trustees and much more.

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Social Security Administration offers this guide to provide extensive information about SSI benefits. It discusses everything associated with filing and receiving SSI benefits, including eligibility requirements. The handbook also features information about Medicaid and other Government assistance programs.

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