Key Features of the Master Pooled Trust

Provides an ongoing source of money for "supplemental needs." Government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid will pay for a person's primary living needs such as food, housing, and basic medical care. Anything beyond that is considered to be a "supplemental need." The Master Pooled Trust is designed to provide a perpetual source of income that can be used to pay for these "supplemental needs," which includes things like travel, entertainment, education, eyeglasses, insurance premiums, diapers, and other non-necessary medical supplies and services.

Protects government benefits. If your family member with a disability receives even a modest amount of money from an inheritance, a gift, a court settlement, or even from a savings account established on his behalf, he may no longer be eligible for government benefits. However, if the money is placed in a Master Pooled Trust account, which is designed to be used exclusively for "supplemental needs," government benefits will not be at risk.

Frees families from completing Medicaid reports. The Arc of Texas, one of the state's oldest and largest nonprofit organizations working on behalf of people with disabilities, is the manager of the Master Pooled Trust. As the trust manager, The Arc is responsible for following current Medicaid regulations and reporting all expenditures from the trust to the appropriate government agencies. We also ensure that trust disbursements will not create income that could cause the beneficiary to lose his government benefits.

Provides disability-related support services to beneficiaries and their families. The Arc of Texas has fifty years of experience in serving people with disabilities and their families. We offer trust beneficiaries and their families free information and referral services, training opportunities, special education consultation, legislative information, and more.

Allows families to choose how the trust money will be spent. With the Master Pooled Trust, the beneficiary and his or her family (or legal guardian/primary representative) can decide how they want the money to be used. The Arc's only responsibility in approving requests is to ensure that the money will not be spent in a way that could jeopardize the beneficiary's eligibility for government benefits.

Even if you intend to fund your family member's trust through your will or life insurance policy, you'll have an opportunity to outline how you want the money to be spent when you enroll in the trust and complete the legally binding joinder agreement. Because government regulations and what you want for your family member may change over time, The Arc will review and update your family member's file with you annually.

Has no minimum or maximum funding requirements. Unlike a traditional bank trust, which often requires you to invest a minimum of $100,000, you can open a Master Pooled Trust account with any amount of money-large or small.

Is more affordable than many traditional bank trusts. The enrollment and annual consultation fees for the Master Pooled Trust are lower than those of many bank trusts. There are no annual fees for accounts which are not yet funded.

*In order to be eligible for the Master Pooled Trust, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of a person who has a disability.