Why This Page Exists
Special needs trust planning is a high-stakes topic. The wrong information can cost a family their child’s benefits — benefits they may depend on for the rest of their life. I take that seriously.
This page explains how the content on this site is created, researched, and maintained. If you’re going to trust what you read here — and I hope you will — you deserve to know how it’s made.
Who Creates This Content
My name is Randy Smith. I’m a special needs dad from Tallahassee, Florida — 18 years into this journey. I built this site because when I needed state-specific information about special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and Medicaid planning, it didn’t exist in one place. I spent years researching these topics for my own family, and this site is the resource I wish I’d had.
I am not an attorney. I am not a financial advisor. I’m a parent who has spent thousands of hours learning these systems, talking to professionals, reading federal and state regulations, and making my own mistakes along the way. That experience — real, lived, ongoing — is the foundation of everything on this site.
How We Research
Every state page on this site is built from primary sources — not copied from other websites or generated without verification. Here’s where the information comes from:
- State trust statutes and Medicaid regulations — the actual laws governing special needs trusts in each state
- Official ABLE program websites — each state’s ABLE program publishes its own rules, contribution limits, and tax deduction policies
- State Medicaid agency publications — eligibility rules, asset limits, estate recovery policies, and waiver programs
- State bar associations — attorney referral services and specialization directories
- National special needs organizations — the Special Needs Alliance, Academy of Special Needs Planners, and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Pooled trust program administrators — individual programs publish their fees, eligibility requirements, and service areas
- Federal sources — Social Security Administration rules for SSI and SSDI, IRS guidance on ABLE accounts, and CMS Medicaid policy
When specific data points couldn’t be confirmed from a primary source (a fee range, a waitlist estimate, a program detail), they’re flagged for verification rather than published as fact.
How We Keep Content Current
Special needs law changes. ABLE contribution limits adjust annually. States pass new legislation. Medicaid programs update their rules. A guide that was accurate last year can be dangerously wrong today.
Here’s how we handle that:
- Quarterly reviews — every page on the site is reviewed at least once per quarter for accuracy
- Date stamps — state pages and guides show when they were last reviewed so you know how current the information is
- Legislative monitoring — when states pass laws affecting special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, or Medicaid eligibility, affected pages are updated promptly
- Alert boxes — major pending changes (like a new Medicaid lookback period or ABLE rule change) are highlighted with alert boxes on the relevant state pages so readers know what’s coming
What This Site Is Not
This site does not provide legal advice. Every family’s situation is different — your child’s disability, your state’s laws, your family’s finances, and your estate plan all interact in ways that require professional guidance. The information here is meant to educate and prepare you, not replace an attorney.
You’ll see this disclaimer throughout the site because it matters. When you’re ready to set up a trust, open an ABLE account, or plan for your child’s long-term care, please work with a qualified special needs attorney in your state. Every state page on this site includes attorney resources to help you find one.
How We Handle Recommendations
When we link to attorney directories like the Special Needs Alliance or Academy of Special Needs Planners, it’s because these are the most respected organizations in the field — not because anyone paid us to include them. When we mention a state’s ABLE program or pooled trust provider, it’s because those are the actual programs available in that state.
If we ever enter into a referral partnership with an attorney network or financial service, we will clearly disclose that relationship on every page where it appears. You’ll always know if a recommendation involves compensation.
Corrections and Feedback
I’d rather fix an error than pretend it doesn’t exist. If you find something on this site that’s outdated, unclear, or just plain wrong, please let me know:
Send us a message or email directly at randy@specialneedstrustbystate.com.
When corrections are needed, here’s what happens:
- Factual errors — fixed immediately and noted in the page’s Recent Updates section
- Outdated information — updated as part of our quarterly review or sooner if the change is significant
- Unclear explanations — rewritten to be clearer, because the whole point of this site is making complex information accessible
This site exists because I needed it for my own family. Every page is written with the same care I’d want if I were reading it for the first time, trying to figure out how to protect my child. That’s a standard I don’t take lightly.
