The CJP Disabilities Trust is a trust set up by another person to serve adults with disabilities. Typically this type of trust is set up by a family member for a disabled adult. This Trust provides an advocate for the beneficiary. The CJP Disabilities Trust II is a self-settled pooled trust that is funded by a disabled adult for his or her own benefit.
Ask yourself the question, “What will happen to my family member with disabilities after I am gone?” A trust allows you to put aside money to provide for your loved one with disabilities after you are no longer able to. Families can make a financial investment now to help provide a lifetime of personal advocacy services for the family member with a disability.
The CJP Trust is designed to preserve eligibility for benefits such as SSI and MassHealth. The CJP Disabilities Trust is a “safe-harbor” trust that allows a beneficiary to shelter funds while still qualifying for public benefits.
Anyone can set up this Trust for someone with a disability.
This Trust requires an opening balance of $25,000. You can take up to three years to fully fund this Trust once it has been established.
There is a one-time enrollment fee of $400 to establish the Trust. Once the Trust has been established, there is an annual administration fee of 2% of the fund balance up to $150,000 and a 1.5% fee of funds over $150,000.
The Trust can accept only cash assets. Any assets other than cash must be sold and converted into cash before the Trust can accept it.
This Trust is a legal document. Neither CJP nor JF&CS can provide you with legal advice. Therefore it is highly recommended that you retain a lawyer to work with you and JF&CS and CJP.
Generally the Trust is irrevocable, but in extraordinary circumstances the Trust may be dissolved with the trustee’s approval. For planning purposes one should assume this is a life long decision.
Invoices are submitted to JF&CS and paid directly and promptly (typically once a week). No funds can be paid directly to the beneficiary. We can reimburse a third party for out-of-pocket expenses; submit those receipts to JF&CS and include a brief explanation of the expense.
The Trust will cover expenses that the beneficiary’s public benefits do not cover depending on the size of the account. When establishing the Trust, a Proposed Service Plan and a Service Planning Guide can spell out just what the Trust is intended to pay for.
The Trust will not pay for benefits covered by MassHealth (Medicaid) or other health insurance. Typically the Trust will not pay for housing or food costs without jeopardizing eligibility for Social Security benefits (MassHealth/Medicaid).
In this Trust 50% of the remaining funds revert to CJP and JF&CS and are used to enhance the services to other beneficiaries of the Trust. The remaining funds go to individuals or entities as chosen by the sponsor.
JF&CS has been providing human services and health care programs since 1864. We design each service with the goal of enhancing independence and quality of life. JF&CS draws upon its various disabilities programs and as a constituent agency of CJP, we can utilize specialized services of other agencies. We work closely with many other organizations that serve children and adults with disabilities. While we are proud of our services, we encourage you to look at all financial plans.