What is a Supplemental Needs Trust?

Here is our updated post explaining special needs trusts.

A Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT) is a discretionary trust which is established for a disabled individual while they are on a governmental disability program. Ordinarily governmental programs consider a person’s income and resources to determine whether they will be eligible for assistance; however a SNT will not be treated as an available resource for eligibility purposes so long as the statutory requirements are satisfied. The SNT can be used to pay for expenses that Medicaid does not cover, such as certain home care services, travel, entertainment, automobiles, a house, technology, furnishings, and other luxury items.

A SNT may be established by a parent, grandparent, guardian or the Court for a disabled person under age 65. When assets and income of the incapacitated person are transferred into the SNT, there will not be an ineligibility period for Medicaid and Medicaid will not be able to consider the SNT when determining eligibility.

One thing to keep in mind however is that after the incapacitated person dies, depending on the type of trust and how it was funded, the State might require it be paid back for the Medicaid benefits spent on the incapacitated person, provided such amount remains in the trust.

To discuss whether you should set up a Supplemental Needs Trust for your loved one, call the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin at (212) 233-1233.

Attorney Albert Goodwin

Law Offices of
Albert Goodwin, PLLC
31 W 34 Str, Suite 7058
New York, NY 10001

Tel. 212-233-1233

[email protected]

About the Author

Albert Goodwin, Esq. is a licenced New York attorney with over 15 years of courtroom experience. His extensive knowledge and expertise make him well-qualified to write authoritative articles on a wide range of legal topics.

Contact Us









Albert Goodwin gave interviews to and appeared on the following media outlets:

ProPublica Forbes ABC CNBC CBS NBC News Discovery Wall Street Journal NPR

Client Reviews

Verified feedback from our clients

Mr. Goodwin is everything you want in an attorney: professional, honest, thorough, and genuinely caring. He always explains things clearly, so I understood exactly what was happening and what to expect next. His attention to detail and persistence really stood out. Looking back, I feel lucky to have found him. He guided me through the whole process expertly, and I deeply appreciate all his hard work. Would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Sarah M

Legal Services

Thanks to Mr. Albert Goodwin's hard work and smart thinking, I finally won my case, which has been a long time coming. He figured out solutions that no one else could see. I'm really impressed by his strong ethics - something that's rare these days. As my lawyer, he went above and beyond what I expected. I'm so grateful I found him and would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Lawrence H

Estate Law

From our first meeting, I knew I was in great hands with Albert and his associate Katrina. They handled my case with incredible skill and efficiency, even though they took it over from another firm. What impressed me most was how quickly Albert responded to my questions with honest, clear answers - no sugarcoating, just straight talk. They managed a huge workload under tight deadlines, and their fees were very reasonable for such high-quality work. Beyond his legal expertise, Albert's wit and personality made a difficult process much easier to handle. I'm deeply grateful for their hard work and would absolutely choose them again. If you need legal help in New York, you won't find better representation than Albert's firm.

Adam F

Estate Litigation

VIEW MORE
New York State Bar Association Member Badge New York City Bar Association Member Badge American Bar Association Member Badge Avvo Rated Attorney Badge