Tucson, AZ – July 7, 2022 – The Special Needs Alliance (SNA), the national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law, is proud to have advocated for and supported the Special Needs Trust (SNT) Improvement Act of 2022, which was introduced by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) as an essential part of the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act which recently received bipartisan approval in the Senate Finance Committee of the United States.

The SNT Improvement Act provides a way to support organizations that deliver significant care, services and assistance to many individuals with special needs and chronic illnesses through inherited retirement accounts. benefits. Under the SNT Improvement Act, certain types of charitable organizations can now be named as remainder beneficiaries of SNTs funded with retirement -accounts without compromising the favorable income tax treatment available to individuals with disabilities as the primary beneficiary of SNTs under the 2019 Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act.

“Individuals and families want to ensure that they can contribute to organizations that are providing essential services that are heavily relied upon by so many,” said SNA President Mary O’Byrne. “We’ve all heard about the nationwide staffing shortages and funding cuts to services for people with disabilities that threaten the viability of these organizations. This act provides individuals and their families the ability to ensure that these services can be supported in the future without a higher tax cost during the life of the special needs trust beneficiary.”

“We’re passionate about advocating for those we serve, and this is a big advancement for the special needs community—allowing families to confidently carry out Congress’s intent when planning for their loved ones with disabilities and the charitable organizations supporting them,” said Christopher Smith and Roxanne Chang, SNA Public Policy Committee Co-Chairs. “The Special Needs Alliance is grateful for the leadership of Senator Young and Senator Hassan in sponsoring the Special Needs Trust Improvement Act of 2022 as an essential part of the EARN Act, and we ask that people reach out to their senators to cosponsor the Special Needs Trust Improvement Act of 2022 – S. 4426.”

Tara Pleat, Christopher Smith, and Roxanne Chang are part of the SNA Public Policy Committee that spearheaded the Special Needs Alliance’s part in supporting the Special Needs Trust Improvement Act.

 

About Special Needs Alliance

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national organization comprised of attorneys who practice law and advocate for people living with special needs and disabilities, the elderly, and their families. SNA was formed in 2002 to maintain a professional organization of attorneys skilled in public benefits, estate, trust and tax planning, and legal issues for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. Membership in the Alliance is only obtained via an invitation from the SNA and is limited to those who meet its professional standards in the area of disability law and advocacy. SNA is instrumental in connecting individuals with disabilities, their families and their advisors—including personal injury attorneys and financial advisors—with local members who have niche practices in special needs and disability law and elder law.

SNA member practice areas and services include: Special Needs Trusts; Medicaid, SSI & Entitlement Program Eligibility; Estate, Wills, Trust & Tax Planning for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families; Financial Planning & Legal Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities; Guardianships & Conservatorships; Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice Settlement Assistance; Trust & Estate Distributions and Fiduciary Accountings; Estate & Trust Administration; and Health Care Decisions & Advance Directives. For more information visit: specialneedsalliance.org.