Saving for the Future for People with Disabilities

ASL interpretation and captioning is available.

In this workshop, people with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them will learn about methods of saving that WON’T jeopardize Social Security, Medicaid, food, or housing benefits. These savings methods include federal ABLE savings accounts and special needs trusts.

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities and their families, which were created by the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014. There are two kinds of special needs trusts (SNT) that preserve a person’s needs-based government benefits such as Medicaid and SSI (Supplemental Security Income): first-party SNTs and third-party SNTs.

The workshop is led by Carolyn Wheeler of the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute, and attorney Amy Dougherty of Bluegrass Elderlaw Attorneys in Lexington, Kentucky.

Amy Dougherty has practiced law for nearly 40 years and specializes in Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate, and Wills and Trusts. She advocates for clients before Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare agencies and defends against involuntary dismissal from long-term care facilities.

Carolyn Wheeler is a Project Director at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute and a Certified Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor with 40 years of experience training and advocating for people with disabilities and their families.  Carolyn has developed an area of expertise in financial planning issues for people with disabilities and their families. She is a founding member of Life Plan of Kentucky, which is a pooled special needs trust.

Continuing education credits are available for credit counselors through the Society for Financial & Career Consulting Professionals (SFCCP) and National Association of Certified Credit Counselors. (The NACCC charges a $50 fee for the CEUs).

Continuing education credits also are available for certified rehab counselors through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).