Bradley J. Frigon, JD, LLM (Tax), CELA 6500 S. Quebec St., Suite 330 Englewood, CO (720) (720) fax

SHOW ME….THE CHANGES “Words, words, words, I’m so SICK of words, I get words all day through, first from Him now from You, is that all you blighters can do?” Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

INFERRING THE PURPOSE OF THE CHANGES Sometimes, clarifications are made in titles or in legalese-type language. Sometimes, examples are added to clarify the rules for anyone needing to interpret them. Sometimes, the emphasis of a rule is changed to clarify why certain resources may or may not be countable (keeping folks from going astray…) A few are just, well, inexplicable.

FORM Section titles expanded to include direct references to trusts. “Definitions” are now a “Glossary of Terms” Often adds the word “trust” to a heading. Form or substance: B. 4. The beneficiary no longer “owns” the benefits, he or she now “receives” the benefits. All references to other POMS remain the same.

SUBSTANCE Spendthrift clauses. Words: “Revoke v. Terminate” Grantor trusts v. 3d Party trusts. Show me the money: Grantor v. Funder. Words: Disbursement. When Child support/alimony aren’t income. Words: Medicaid as beneficiary or creditor? Focus on state law variations.

Defining Spendthrift Clauses – B.16 “Anticipatory” transfers replaced with “involuntary and voluntary” transfers. Clarifies that distributions can be reached by creditors even if corpus cannot be. Emphasizes that “valid” spendthrift clause makes “the value of the beneficiary’s right to receive payments not countable as a resource”. Former emphasis was on non-alienable feature as basis for not being counted as asset.

Spendthrift Clauses New language : If state law forbids spendthrift clauses, the right to receive monthly payments is countable resource because may be sold for lump sum.

Spendthrift References D.1.a. When a trust is a resource – NEW:..if the beneficiary can sell interest, it’s a resource D.1.b When beneficiary has a right to mandatory periodic payments (note that the definition says “monthly” not “periodic”) D.2 Modifies language “cannot be used for support and maintenance” by referencing “e.g. has a valid spendthrift clause”.

Revocation Vs. Termination: Now Defined B.19 and B.20 Revocable: ability to reclaim or take-back assets from the trust: If 1 st party funded, will be resource. If 3d party funded, may not be resource. Focus on whether the recipient can terminate the revocable trust If the beneficiary of a 3d party trust can terminate the trust and obtain assets, the trust will be countable as a resource.

Termination defined “Terminate” = “end” Query: If an irrevocable SNT includes a termination provision while primary beneficiary is still living, is there any circumstance under which the assets could be considered available? What if the termination provision includes direct payment to the primary beneficiary?

Application of Revocation v. Termination D.1.a If beneficiary can revoke OR terminate = asset D.1.b. Title now reads: Authority to Revoke or Terminate Trust or Use Assets D.1.b. Beneficiary Trust assets are resources if beneficiary can terminate and gain access to assets. D.1.b. Trustee Replaces “revoke” with “terminate” (?)

More Revocation v. Termination D.2 Drafters, use this language: “If an individual does not have the legal authority to revoke or terminate the trust or to direct use of the trust assets for his/her own support and maintenance, the trust principal is not the individual’s resource for SSI purposes”.

Colorado Regulations A trust that is established solely for the benefit of a disabled individual under the age of 65, which consists of the assets of the individual, and is established for the purpose or with the effect of establishing or maintaining the individual's resource eligibility for medical assistance and which meets the following criteria: The individual for whom the trust is established must meet the disability criteria of Social Security. The trust is established solely for the benefit of the disabled individual by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or the court. The sole lifetime beneficiaries of the trust are the individual for whose benefit the trust is established and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (CDHCPF). The trust terminates upon the death of the individual or if the trust is no longer required for Medicaid eligibility in Colorado.

Disability Trust Form Used by State However, if in the trustee’s judgment, there are unusual circumstances indicating that it would be in the primary beneficiary’s best interest to make certain payments to or for the primary beneficiary, the trustee may make such payments that would result in disqualifying the primary beneficiary from medical assistance. In the event of this occurrence, the trust shall be terminated with the provisions in this document for termination. Trust Termination, Section 8.01 Unless sooner terminated by exhaustion of the corpus, this trust shall terminate upon the death of the primary beneficiary or if the trust is no longer required for Medicaid eligibility in Colorado. Trust Irrevocable: Section 9.02 “Notwithstanding the irrevocable nature of the trust, the trust may be terminated if the primary beneficiary is no longer disabled or is no longer receiving Medicaid benefits in Colorado. In this event, the provisions of Article VIII regarding distribution of remaining trust funds shall be applicable.

Revocability Rewrite: D3 Discussion of “residual beneficiaries” “under the modern view, RBs are assumed to be created…when a grantor names heirs, next of kin, or similar groups to receive the remaining assets on the trust upon the grantor’s death. In such a case, the trust is considered to be irrevocable”. No comment re: when the trust should be considered irrevocable Rev trust with language allowing support of dependents upon incapacity of grantor?

Revocable v. Terminate Examples L.2.a – Beneficiary of irrev 3d party trust, full discretionary power in Trustee. Analysis – beneficiary has no authority to “terminate” the trust (replaces prior phrase which stated no authority to “revoke”), the trust principal is not a resource. Distinction with or without a difference? The example contains no reference to the authority to terminate.

Emphasizing the Source of the Trust Funds Distinguishing Grantor and 3d Party trusts B.2 defines “grantor” (settlor or trustor) as the individual who provides the trust principal B.8 defined “grantor trust” as a trust in which the grantor is also the sole beneficiary of the trust, subject to applicable state law B.17 “Be alert for situations where a trust is allegedly established with the assets of a third party, but in reality is created with the beneficiary’s property.

“The Establisher” B.18 – Fiduciary Duty “The person who establishes a trust should not be confused with the grantor, who provides the assets that form the principal of the trust”. So: Drafter ? Should we now re-frame the language of SNTs to identify “the establisher”, the “grantor who gave the money”, the “trustee” and the “beneficiary”?

The Language of Disbursements Sufficiently re-written to provoke comment E.1.a – adds two new paragraphs clarifying the effects of disbursements to third parties If disbursement is non-cash, it’s in kind unless otherwise excluded E.1.c – Entirely re-written. If it’s not in-kind or ISM, it’s not income Examples include disbursements for education, therapy, medical services not covered by Medicaid, phone bills, recreation, entertainment

Disbursements as Income Redux If beneficiary receives a non-cash item other than food and shelter – not income if the purchased items would have been excluded if retained into next month. Example provided: Trustee purchases computer for beneficiary. Excluded the next month as a household good, therefore not income. ?: Why the distinction between paragraphs 1 and 2? Distributions in #1 could also be from 3d party

Distributions when principal is a resource – new provision E.2 now has subsections (a) and a new (b) (a) adds “…or that result in the receipt of something by the individual”; (b) if the trust was established with the assets of the individual/spouse and is a resource: Disbursement not made to or for individual is a transfer as of date of payment, not income; and Any foreclosure of payment is considered a transfer of resources as of the date of foreclosure (i.e. trigger trusts?)

ALIMONY AND CHILD SUPPORT! G.1.d. – Assignment of income Now includes the following new example: For example, child support or alimony payments paid directly to a trust as a result of a court order, are not income.

Medicaid: SNT Creditor or Beneficiary? H.1.b State reimbursement provisions: See line 4, ending with..of a debt. Now reads: “…of a debt, unless the trust instrument reflects a clear intent that the state be considered a beneficiary, rather than a mere creditor (emphasis added).

Miscellany (which may still be important) I. Rep payees and Trusts deletes language referring to use and misuse of benefits and instead simply states “see additional rules which may apply”. J.2.b. defines an agency relationship – “person acting as an agent of the individual” J.4- Documentation of Trust Evidence, references some new electronic systems lingo – DROC, EVID, EDCS and NDRed which appear to replace old form.

Miscellany #2 - Caution L.3.a example leaves something to be desired. Assumes the beneficiary’s mother, as legal guardian, established a trust without a court order – or doesn’t reference the a order and therefore could create confusion. Settlement funds placed in irrev, sole benefit trust but in this example, the funds are considered an available resource because mother as guardian was standing in his shoes.