New York Special Needs Act Becomes Law

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Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation which amends New York law to allow mentally-competent disabled individuals under age 65 to establish a first-party Special Needs Trust without court petition.

In the past, when an individual with special needs had assets in his or her name which precluded his or her eligibility for government benefits, a special needs trust could only be created to achieve eligibility for benefits while preserving the assets for a disabled individual’s care by a parent, a grandparent or a legal guardian, or by the disabled individual by way of a lengthy and costly court proceeding.  Now, a disabled individual with mental capacity can establish his or her own special needs trust for assets in his or her own name without the involvement of these other individuals, or the courts, while preserving his or her eligibility for government benefits (for example, Medicaid and SSI).

New York Social Services Law 366(2)(b)(2)(iii) now conforms to the Federal Special Needs Trust Fairness Act signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 13, 2016, and applies to all first-party Special Needs Trusts established in New York on or after August 21, 2017.

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Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

As the law continues to evolve on these matters, please note that this article is current as of date and time of publication and may not reflect subsequent developments. The content and interpretation of the issues addressed herein is subject to change. Cole Schotz P.C. disclaims any and all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this publication to the fullest extent permitted by law. This is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or refrain from acting upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining legal, financial and tax advice. For further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your firm contact or to any of the attorneys listed in this publication.

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