| CLIENT QUESTION:
My daughter is autistic but high-functioning. I know I can not give her cash directly because it would affect her SSI and Medicaid eligibility. I am looking for another way to accomplish this. I was thinking of giving her a gift card or a debit card instead. Would this work?
MY RESPONSE:
NO! It is deemed to be the equivalent of giving her cash. Clever, and I like your thinking…but it does not work.
But we may have a solution for you. If she was deemed disabled before age 26 (46 as of January 1, 2026), you may be able to fund an ABLE account for her benefit with up to $19,000 per year. Your daughter can be given access to this money, and it will NOT affect her government benefits. It is a great tool. Let’s discuss!
I hope this helps! |
