Why is there any reason to take pause when I am naming inheritors in my will?
The vast majority of Americans with disabilities rely on government benefits that are only available to people that can demonstrate significant levels of financial need. One of them is Medicaid, which is a source of health care insurance.
Obviously, this is particularly important for people that are going to need expensive ongoing care and treatment throughout their lives. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another need-based program that is often part of the equation. As the name would indicate, this benefit provides a modest but steady stream of income for disabled folks that have no ability to earn money.
A significant change of financial status via a bequest or some other windfall would render a benefit recipient ineligible until the assets have been exhausted. This is why you should explore strategies that can be implemented to provide help without doing any harm in the process.