Community Trust I

Pooled Trust for Asset Protection

Community Trust I is a pooled supplemental needs trust (SNT) for people with disabilities who have excess resources or monthly income that puts them over the financial limits to be eligible for means-tested government benefits, including Medicaid and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you receive money directly or you have money that could put your benefits at risk, a pooled trust is a great option to avoid having to spend down funds quickly or on unnecessary things in order to maintain your eligibility for services.

Review Documents

Steps to Establish

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Financial Management

Admin Cost

Approx. Monthly Cost*:

*See current fee schedule for more information.
**This only calculates fees for lump sum deposits. If you are also making
monthly deposits, see CTI Pass-through Fee Schedule.

Pooled Trust

Funded with Excess Money

A pooled trust can help a person protect funds such as:

a direct inheritance
settlement proceeds, lump sum or structured payments
retroactive benefit payments
child support or alimony payments
resources accrued from Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits
monthly income spend-down for Medicaid

Benefits of a Pooled Trust

Usually more affordable to set up and maintain than a standalone special needs trust
Professionally trained non-profit manages the funds, so you don’t need to find a trustee
Trust managed by experienced non-profit that understands the rules of Medicaid and SSI
Low minimum funding requirements (open with as little as $300)
People over age 65 can participate*
Establish quickly because documents are approved by Medicaid/SSA
Personalized service from dedicated team
A financial institution serves as co-trustee to manage trust investments
Funds pooled for investment and management purposes

*Additions to a pooled trust after the age of 65 may result in a transfer penalty for recipients of SSI benefits and/or Medicaid long-term care services.

Over the limit for SSI?

James just received a retroactive Social Security benefit for $10,000 and he needs to get the funds out of his name in order to maintain his financial eligibility for SSI.

He opens a Community Trust I account to deposit the check into the trust. This way he can keep his benefits and these funds can be used throughout his lifetime rather than being spent down quickly to avoid reducing his benefits.

Working with a Disability

Joe lives in an IRA and has a job at the local grocery store. He really enjoys the freedom that having a job gives him, but he also needs the services and medical care he receives through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

He has always enjoyed going to the movies and usually spends his wages going a couple of times a month. But, he recently got a bonus at work and his personal account has grown beyond the $2,000 limit. By opening up a Community Trust account, he can make deposits when he needs to spend-down funds to maintain his eligibility for SSI. Now he can save this money for a larger expense in the future.