This edition of the Beneficiary Bulletin is full of helpful information! You will see hints on how to get your desk organized. Also, you will learn about Sole Benefit Trust Accounts and Monthly Recurring Payments. If you or someone you know is vision impaired or blind, there is information about a free screen reader called NVDA.   

Happy Reading! 
The Secured Futures Team

 
 
 
SOLE BENEFIT TRUST ACCOUNTS
Special Needs trust accounts are considered Sole Benefit trust accounts by the Social Security Administration. What this means is that the trust cannot benefit anyone besides the trust beneficiary while the account is being established or during the lifetime of the beneficiary or trust account. The only allowable payments for sole benefit trusts are third party payments and administration expenses.   

Consider the following disbursements or distributions to be for the sole benefit of the trust beneficiary:
  • Payments to a third party that result in the receipt of goods or services.
  • Payment of third party travel expenses which are necessary in order for the trust beneficiary to obtain medical treatment.
Continued below.
SOLE BENEFIT TRUST ACCOUNTS, CONTINUED
The trust may also provide for reasonable compensation for a trustee(s) to manage the trust, as well as reasonable costs associated with investment, legal or other services rendered on behalf of the individual with regard to the trust. In defining what is reasonable compensation, consider the time and effort involved in providing the services involved, as well as the prevailing rate of compensation for similar services considering the size and complexity of the trust.

Citations: Social Security Act as amended in 1999, Section 1613(e); 42 U.S.C. 1382b; P.L. 106-169, Section 205 - SI 01120.201F.
MONTHLY RECURRING PAYMENTS
The benefit of setting up certain bills to be paid on a monthly recurring (automatic) basis from your trust share is that it will reduce the time and energy of submitting those bills every month. However, not all bills qualify to be paid on a recurring basis. The bills that can be paid by this process are ones that are the exact same amount every month. Examples would be: internet, home phone, and even car insurance.
 
Bills that can fluctuate every month such as your cable or cell phone should not be set up on a recurring payment. The only exception would be if the trust has agreed to pay a portion of a household bill; for instance, the trust may pay $150 towards a cable bill or $50 towards a cell phone family share plan, and then the beneficiary or his/her family is responsible for paying the balance. 
 
Other bills that should not be submitted are ones that are due quarterly or bi-annually. Those should be submitted with the Pay a Bill form when they are due. If a recurring bill fluctuates, and there is an outstanding balance, you may submit a one-time Pay a Bill form requesting the balance to be paid. This will not affect your existing recurring payment.
 
Please feel free to contact the Trust Administration department about any bill that you are considering to submit with a Monthly Recurring Payment form and we can help you determine whether the bill it is a good candidate.
TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR DESK
  • Have a physical inbox. A convenient place for incoming paper documents. Otherwise, they will end up scattered all over your desk.
    Note: If you need to save receipts to submit to Secured Futures, keep a separate box or container for these, or an envelope in your car.
  • Keep a trash can within reach. Never set trash down, whether it's a piece of paper or a food wrapper.
  • Get rid of unnecessary clutter. Any knickknacks or accessories that are not used should be moved off the desk.
  • Get a scanner. Your Trust can purchase a scanner for you. You can clear paper clutter by scanning documents and saving them on your computer.
  • If you need to keep a paper copy, be sure to have a filing system where you can easily locate the document after being filed.
  • Keep copies of all your Secured Futures documents in a folder or file, including extra Disbursement Request forms.
NVDA SCREEN READER
What is NVDA? NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free "screen reader" which enables blind and vision impaired people to use computers. It reads the text on the screen in a computerized voice. You can control what is read to you by moving the cursor to the relevant area of text with a mouse or the arrows on your keyboard. NVDA can also convert the text into braille if the computer user owns a device called a "braille display".
 
NVDA provides the key to education and employment for many blind people. It also provides access to social networking, online shopping, banking and news.
 
NVDA works with Microsoft Windows. You can download it to your PC, or to a USB stick which you can use with any computer.
 
Normally screen readers are expensive, making them unaffordable for many blind people. NVDA is free. It has been downloaded 70,000+ times, in 43 languages.
Go to http://www.nvaccess.org/ for more information.
(Article from Nvaccess.org)
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES NOW AVAILABLE  silver-keyboard2.jpg
Want a refresher on how to read your Account Summary Statement? Thinking about getting started on your prepaid burial arrangements, but don't remember the steps to take?

Now you can access the latest 4 editions of the Beneficiary Bulletin on our website anytime you want! Go to www.SecuredFutures.org/newsletter and save it as a "Favorite" in your internet browser for quick and easy access in the future.
GOT FORMS? 
Hint: Plan Ahead!  
You can access our forms online 24/7 at www.SecuredFutures.org/forms. 
CONTACT US