How can families of children with disabilities plan for lasting financial security at every stage of life? Find clear answers in The Special Needs Planning Guide, a step-by-step companion for parents as they progress through the complexities of planning for the future of their family and their child. Written by two financial planning experts who are also a parent and a sibling of a person with disabilities, and including contributions from a nationally recognized advocate, this bestselling how-to guide is now in its second edition. Revised, reorganized, and carefully updated to reflect current law, this book gives families the real-world advice, strategies, and actions needed to plan for both their future and the well-being and security of their child. With clarity and compassion, the authors guide families in addressing five critical factors involved in special needs planning- family and support, emotional, financial, legal, and government benefits factors-at every stage of their child's life, from birth through adulthood. Throughout the book, readers will learn from the stories and advice of other caregivers, get helpful planning pointers and key questions to answer, and take action with the chapter lists of Next Steps. To help families customize the information in this book for their specific needs, this new edition also offers a complete package of online resources, including a fillable Special Needs Planning Timeline, easy-to-use financial planning worksheets, and an in-depth Letter of Intent template families can use to map out their vision for their child's life. Informed by decades of personal and professional experience, this reader-friendly guidebook will help families educate themselves about financial planning, create a complete action plan for their future, and provide the knowledge and the tools they need to work toward a secure and full life for their child. WHAT'S NEW: Fully revised chapters and online resources A 10-step process that breaks complex planning into manageable tasks Letter of Intent now available as a fillable PDF Excel worksheets for easy planning New chapters on Foundational Financial Strategies and Tools, and Advanced Strategies and Special Circumstances Helpful information on ABLE accounts, housing options, and military Survivor Benefit Plans New planning tips, pointers, and case stories Guidance on creating a Team to Carry On beyond the parents' lifetimes SELECTED TOPICS COVERED: special needs trusts funding * trustee selection * insurance strategies * investment guidance * estate planning * legal settlements * government benefits, such as SSI, SSDI, and housing benefits * goal-setting * advocacy * hiring financial and legal professionals * sibling considerations * contributions of extended support networks * retirement plans * guardianship and less restrictive alternatives

This book is a general guide for helping families plan for two generations (i.e., the financial planning needs of the primary caregiver and the person with disabilities). It will relieve readers of their anxieties about planning, and it will raise their awareness about the need to plan. The book is intended to bridge the gap between the ultimate vision a family has for their child and the financial realities of making these dreams come true. The structure of the book follows a chronological guideline of the critical transition periods that families face. The book also focuses on identifying and protecting government benefits as well as strategies to supplement government benefits. In addition to the basics of financial planning, the book includes family case studies; sample intent letters, checklists, forms, and other planning tools; a glossary of terms; and resources. One of the key elements of the book one which sets this book apart from other books on financial planning for people with disabilities is the enumeration of the five factors that families should consider when beginning the planning process family factors, emotional factors, financial factors, legal factors, and government factors.