We offer two trusts that allow concerned parties to provide for the long-term needs on adults with disabilities. The UJA-Federation Community Trust for Disabled Adults is a third-party master trust in which a family member or friend can set up an account using his or her own funds to provide for the financial and advocacy needs of the disabled individual for the individual's lifetime. 

The UJA-Federation Community Trust II is set up to enable an individual with disabilities to deposit his or her assets into a distinct trust account. By establishing an irrevocable trust account, the individual is able to receive government entitlements without having to spend down his or her assets. 

UJA-Federation Community Trust for Disabled Adults

Designed to assist families in providing for the future needs of a physically, mentally, or developmentally disabled family member, this is a third-party master trust in which a family member or friend can set up an account using his or her own funds. By opening a trust account, the parent or other concerned third party, as sponsor, can provide for both the financial and advocacy needs of the disabled individual for the individual's lifetime.

The trust brings together the expertise of UJA-Federation's Planned Giving & Endowments Department with the social-service and advocacy expertise of certain of its human-service agencies. With the establishment of a trust account, the disabled individual can receive distributions from the trust for quality-of-life items, which are over and above the benefits the individual may be entitled to receive from any government source. In addition, an advocate is assigned to the disabled individual to ensure he or she receives the proper care and attention and to advocate on his or her behalf. This advocacy is guaranteed for the lifetime of the disabled individual, whether or not a balance remains in the trust account.

A trust account can be opened with a minimum of $100,000, with at least $20,000 initially invested in the account upon signing the sponsor agreement. The remaining $80,000 is payable over a five-year period. After the trust account is fully established, additions can be made to it at any time during the sponsor's lifetime or by will, or through the proceeds of a life-insurance policy or the proceeds of a pension plan. The trust account, once funded, is irrevocable.

Upon the death of the disabled individual, the remainder, if any, of his or her trust account must be distributed with a minimum 25 percent to UJA-Federation and 25 percent to the agency providing the advocacy. The balance remaining can be distributed to family members, charitable organizations, or others, in accordance with the terms of the original sponsor agreement that established the trust account.

Advantages of the UJA-Federation Community Trust for Disabled Adults

1. guaranteed advocacy for life for individuals with disabilities.

2. disbursements from the trust account for quality of life items.

3. concerned third party receives assistance in caring for disabled individual.

This is not a tax-deductible contribution. UJA-Federation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

UJA-Federation Community Trust II

Designed to assist individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities in providing for their future needs, this trust is set up to enable an individual with disabilities to deposit his or her assets into a distinct trust account. By establishing an irrevocable trust account, the individual is able to receive government entitlements without having to spend down his or her assets. At the same time, the individual can receive disbursements from the trust account for quality-of-life items.

The trust is designed as an investment and administrative vehicle that brings together the legal and administrative expertise of UJA-Federation's Planned Giving & Endowments Department with the social-service and advocacy expertise of certain of its human-service agencies. Where appropriate, an advocate can be assigned to the disabled individual to ensure that proper care and attention are received and to assist in problem solving.

Historically, a disabled person was required to spend down his or her assets to qualify for certain entitlements. Federal and New York State legislation now make it possible for a person with disabilities to use his or her own funds to establish a supplemental-needs trust account in a pooled trust set up by a not-for-profit organization, thereby protecting entitlement eligibility. Because the UJA-Federation Community Trust II is a pooled trust established and operated by a non-profit organization, any remainder in a trust account after the death of the disabled individual can be used for the benefit of people with disabilities rather than be used to reimburse the state for Medicaid payments.

A trust account can be opened with a minimum of $50,000, payable in over a four-year period, if needed. The account can be opened by the disabled individual; by the parent, grandparent, or legal guardian of such individual; or by a court, using the funds belonging exclusively to the individual, such as those obtained through inheritance and settlement of personal-injury claims and cases.

Advantages of the UJA-Federation Community Trust II

1. receive government entitlements without having to spend down assets.

2. receive disbursements from the trust account for quality-of-life items.

3. an advocate may be assigned to ensure receipt of proper care and attention.

4. remaining funds may be used to benefit other individuals with disabilities.

This is not a tax-deductible contribution. UJA-Federation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.