Planning for individuals with disabilities, whether physical or mental, young or old, requires special care. Fortunately, a well-crafted trust which complies with applicable Federal and state laws, can preserve an individual’s eligibility for critical Social Security and Medicaid benefits, while allowing the assets of the trust to supplement the individual’s needs. Special Needs Trusts (sometimes referred to as Supplemental Needs Trusts) are complicated, but their primary purpose is to improve the quality of an individual’s life, without disqualifying the individual from eligibility for public benefits.