For families raising a child with a disability, few milestones carry as much weight as the transition into adulthood. High school graduation, once a distant milestone, arrives alongside a long list of new questions. Where will my child continue learning? Will they need support with daily living? How do we plan financially for a future that may look different than we once imagined?
At CNC, we work with families across North Central Washington who are navigating these questions. The good news is that with some early groundwork, families can build a plan that protects both their child's opportunities and the benefits they may already rely on.
Beyond the Diploma: Exploring What Comes Next
Not every young adult with a disability follows a traditional path, and that is more than okay. Options today include vocational training programs, community college certificate programs, supported employment programs, and specialized postsecondary programs designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some families also plan around continued therapy, life skills coaching, or transition services offered through local school districts until age 21.
The right path depends entirely on your child's interests, abilities, and goals. Part of our role is simply asking good questions early and helping families explore what is realistic and exciting, not just what is expected.
Protecting Essential Benefits While Saving for the Future
One of the biggest financial tension points for families is this: many public benefits programs, like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, have strict asset limits. Save too much in your child's name, and you risk their eligibility for benefits they may need for life.
This is where tools like ABLE accounts and special needs trusts come in.
- ABLE accounts let individuals with qualifying disabilities save and invest up to certain annual limits without jeopardizing means-tested benefits, and funds can be used for a wide range of qualified disability expenses, including education.
- Special needs trusts (sometimes called supplemental needs trusts) allow family members to set aside larger sums, often from an inheritance or gift, for a loved one's benefit without those assets counting against eligibility limits.
Used together or separately, these tools give families flexibility to save for education, housing, transportation, and quality-of-life expenses while keeping essential benefits intact.
Legal Considerations Don't Wait for Age 18
When a child with a disability turns 18, they are legally considered an adult, even if their support needs haven't changed. Families often need to explore guardianship, conservatorship, or less restrictive alternatives like supported decision-making agreements well before that birthday arrives. These decisions affect who can make medical, financial, and educational choices on your child's behalf, and they intersect directly with how you title accounts and structure your estate plan.
A Coordinated, Tax-Smart Approach
Special needs planning touches nearly every corner of a family's finances: taxes, estate planning, benefits eligibility, and long-term investment strategy. That is exactly why our team approaches it holistically. Rather than treating your CPA relationship and your financial plan as separate conversations, we bring both perspectives to the table so decisions about trusts, account titling, and tax strategy work together instead of in conflict.
Start the Conversation Early
Every family's situation looks different, and there is no one-size-fits-all plan for a child's transition into adulthood. What matters most is starting the conversation before decisions become urgent. If your family is approaching this stage, or if you simply want to understand your options, we would be glad to talk it through with you. Call us or schedule a consultation on our website today.