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March Newsletter

Stetson University Law School has sponsored an annual conference I have attended for years for Trust and Estate, Special Needs, and Elder Law Attorneys and Pooled Trust organizations to learn, from leaders in the field, how to meet the needs of people with special needs. When I received Life Passages PSNT Best Practices Guidelines, published by Stetson University in 2019 and revised in 2020, I recognized an opportunity to adapt the 34-page guidelines so that CCT staff could systematically compare our policies and procedures against the measurable standards provided in the “best practices” framework.  

Staff in Finance and Operations, New Client Services, and Client Services each reviewed their section to assess our policies and procedures utilizing information gleaned from the Best Practices Guidelines in addition to established standards for nonprofit organizations. The project took months, as our goal was to learn and improve. Years later, we continue to monitor compliance with changes in the field.

As part of our due diligence, CCT conducts both internal and external audits to ensure that we are meeting the highest standards in the pooled trust industry.

Today’s newsletter article addresses several principles to which CCT holds itself accountable as well as our commitment to continued learning and adapting as an organization.

Please contact us to let us know how we can be of assistance as you serve your clients.

Joanne Marcus jmarcus@trustcct.org

Rachel Baer rbear@trustcct.org

Kaylan Martin kmartin@trustcct.org

Call CCT  804-740-6930

Best Practices

Attorneys and other professionals demonstrate their trust and faith in CCT when they entrust their clients to us for pooled trust sub-account administration.  Our goal is to provide professional, client-centered services and to demonstrate that their trust is well-founded. 

To give you insight into the steps that CCT takes to protect your clients’ sub-accounts, we want to share some of the standards to which CCT holds itself. 

Independent Board of Directors

CCT has a twenty-member independent, volunteer Board of Directors, composed of attorneys, accountants, medical professionals, and more.  The Board recruits, screens, selects, and votes to install the new members. The Board, and its various committees, provide oversight to CCT and guidance as we serve our clients. A minimum of two Board members are related to someone with special needs.

Audits

CCT engages in a number of audits regularly, as recommended by the Life Passages PSNT Best Practices Guidelines mentioned by Joanne above.  Each of these audits is done by an independent, qualified business with no financial ties to any CCT employee or Board member outside of being paid for their services.  CCT undergoes a financial audit of its corporate accounts annually by an accounting firm; that same firm conducts an internal controls audit every several years.  CCT undergoes an information technology (IT) audit every several years to help ensure that our clients’ information is safe. 

Honoring both Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Social Work Month, our Client Services Coordinator team comes together for our March Service Project, folding origami butterflies and decorating journals for children with autism at St. Joseph's Villa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is the difference between a means-tested benefit and an entitlement benefit?

Answer:  Means-tested benefits look at countable income and/or assets when determining eligibility for benefits.  Special needs trusts were created to protect eligibility for two means-tested benefits: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.  For example, generally a person must have less than $2,000 in countable assets and countable income below a specific threshold to qualify for SSI.  Receiving means-tested benefits can also bring additional restrictions to allowable distributions from a special needs trust, such as the reduction in SSI benefits if trust funds are spent on food or shelter.  It is important to note that other means-tested benefits, like subsidized housing, may not be protected by placing funds into a special needs trust.

Entitlement benefits do not consider a person’s income or assets when determining eligibility for benefits.  Entitlement benefits include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is based on work history of the person or their parent or spouse, and Medicare, which a person qualifies for based on age, receiving SSDI for over 24 months, end-stage renal failure, etc.  

It is important to note that a person may be dual eligible for means-tested and entitlement benefits at the same time.  A person might receive Medicare due to their age, but also qualify for long-term care Medicaid.  A person might receive $500 in SSDI and then receive an additional $443 in SSI to reach the federal benefit rate of $943.

Our Client Services Staff Who Set Us Apart

Written by

Jessica Morris, LCSW

Client Services Clinical Manager

CCT’s Client Services Coordinators (CSCs) play a central role in managing trust accounts. This team is responsible for most of the communication with our clients as well as the processing of requests for funds. While reviewing these requests, CSCs ensure that all necessary documentation has been submitted, providing a clear picture of fund usage, both previously and moving forward. Some requests are clear-cut while others require more background information or verification of intended use (e.g., invoices, estimates for services). Receipts from previous purchases are also considered necessary documentation.

Each CSC has an assigned caseload, allowing them to build rapport and trust within their working relationships. These connections with advocates, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders are invaluable during difficult or probing conversations. Collecting needed information can sometimes present a challenge. Inquiring about a person’s disability, household income, or more detailed explanations as to why a request is made can make some clients uncomfortable or even defensive.

All CSCs at CCT hold Master of Social Work degrees. The related training and background knowledge allow for an increased capacity for compassion and warmth. They approach their work with a focus on gaining a holistic understanding of each unique situation. Our clients have life challenges, either as a person living with a disability or as a family member/caretaker of that individual. This contributes to a balance between empathy for the individual and upholding CCT’s fiduciary responsibility as trust administrator. Our goal is to find an appropriate balance and to create win-win situations.

Conferences & Presentations

Contact CCT

trustCCT.org

804-740-6930

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