How to Give Without Jeopardizing Government Benefits
From The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate planning podcast by Jill Mastroianni - Estate Planning & Probate Attorney/Lawyer for Women
February 24, 2026 · 18 min · Episode 67
About this episode
Jill discusses how to give wealth to grandchildren without jeopardizing government benefits for those with special needs.
A grandmother wants to divide her wealth equally among her grandchildren — but one grandchild has Down syndrome, and a simple gift could unintentionally jeopardize eligibility for important government benefits. In this Tuesday Triage episode, Jill walks through required minimum distributions (RMDs), why “equal” doesn’t always mean “fair,” and how thoughtful planning protects both generosity and long-term support. You’ll learn how special needs planning tools like ABLE accounts and third-party special needs trusts help families give with love without causing unintended consequences.
People in this episode
Host: Jill Mastroianni
Topics covered
- estate planning
- special needs planning
- government benefits
- wealth distribution
- family support
Keywords
- estate planning
- Down syndrome
- government benefits
- ABLE accounts
- special needs trusts
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