Special Needs Trusts and Pooled Trusts, are trusts designed to provide assets for the care and comfort of disabled and elderly beneficiaries without jeopardizing their access to programs, funds and/or medical benefits that may be available to them. A properly drafted Special Needs Trust preserves and shelters assets for the benefit of a disabled person so that she can obtain means-based benefits and have additional comforts, enjoyment, education, entertainment and medical care not otherwise provided by the government programs. A well managed support system using Special Needs Trusts and Pooled Trusts can maximize the use of government-provided services while supporting the family’s care and enhancing the comfort and enjoyment of life for the disabled beneficiary.

 

Michelle is proud to be a social services entrepreneur with extensive experience in non-profit, disabilities, advocacy and government work. She focuses on health & human services and has a passion for helping those with disabilities and special needs. She has created two very successful multi-agency collaboratives to jointly address the needs of children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and is working to help people with a much broader range of disabilities, including mental health challenges.

JLA Trust & Services is a fast-growing nonprofit that provides affordable pooled special needs trusts for persons with disabilities who receive means-tested government benefits and also have access to private, supplemental funds such as from an inheritance or legal settlement.