Jason Neufeld releases guide for special needs trust trustees

Florida elder law attorney Jason Neufeld has published a new handbook aimed at families and trustees managing Special Needs Trusts, with a focus on preserving SSI and Medicaid eligibility. The book offers plain-language guidance on distributions, compliance and recordkeeping for one of disability planning’s most error-prone roles. Why it matters: - Special Needs Trust trustees can jeopardize a beneficiary’s SSI and Medicaid benefits with a single improper distribution. - The handbook is aimed at reducing that risk by giving trustees a practical framework for day-to-day administration. - The book is designed for family trustees, private professionals and newly appointed trustees who need clear guidance fast. What happened: - Jason Neufeld, Esq., a Florida Bar Board-Certified Elder Law Attorney and founding partner of Elder Needs Law, PLLC, released Special Needs Trust Trustee Handbook: Assets Protected. Benefits Preserved. - The book is now available globally. - Readers can purchase the book on the Amazon Store. - Elder Needs Law, PLLC points readers to its website for legal updates and resources. - The firm also directs readers to its YouTube channel for free information. The details: - The handbook explains what a Special Needs Trust is and what it is not. - The guide outlines fiduciary roles and responsibilities, including legal liabilities, reporting requirements and other duties. - The book breaks down permitted and prohibited expenses. - The handbook addresses In-Kind Support and Maintenance rules, including how regulatory updates affect food and clothing expenses. - The guide includes recordkeeping and compliance best practices for audit-ready financial records. - The book also highlights common trustee mistakes and how to avoid them. - The publication includes a quick-reference “Dos & Don’ts” chart, an accessible legal glossary and notes pages for personalized tracking. Between the lines: - Neufeld is positioning the handbook as a starter resource, not a substitute for individualized legal advice. - The pitch reflects a broader need in disability planning for clearer, less technical trustee education. - The focus on ISM rules suggests the book is aimed at one of the most confusing areas of benefit-preserving trust administration. What’s next: - Trustees and families can use the handbook as a reference when setting up long-term estate plans or updating existing workflows. - Neufeld says the goal is to help trustees support a beneficiary’s quality of life while staying within fiduciary, SSI and Medicaid rules. - Elder Needs Law, PLLC is continuing to promote the book alongside its legal services and online resources. The bottom line: - The new handbook is meant to make special needs trust administration easier to understand while helping trustees avoid mistakes that could threaten essential public benefits.