About Community Trust I

About Community Trust ICharlotte Filipovich2026-05-22T14:45:54+00:00

WHAT IS A POOLED SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST?

Community Trust I

Community Trust I is a pooled supplemental needs trust (SNT), which is an irrevocable SNT that, under Federal and New York statute, offers immediate and long-term support by allowing a person with a disability to utilize excess funds to access life-enhancing activities that their government benefits do not provide while allowing them to maintain their eligibility.

For a person with disabilities to receive “means-tested” government benefits, such as Medicaid and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), they must keep their financial resources below the associated asset limit. If they receive money (i.e., proceeds from an inheritance, settlement, retroactive Social Security award, or other resources) that could put their benefits in jeopardy, a pooled SNT is a great option to avoid having to spend excess funds unnecessarily to maintain eligibly for vital services.

Community Trust I can be established by the individual, a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, power of attorney, or a court order. There are no age requirements or limitations.

STEPS TO ESTABLISH

Fee Calculator

Enter End of Month Balance:

Fudiciary Management (0.054%):

Administrative Cost (0.075%):

Est. Monthly Cost* = :

*See current fee schedule for more information.
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HOW COMMUNITY TRUST I WORKS

MANAGEMENT

Account funds are managed by CCANY (trustee) and Pathfinder Bank (co-trustee).

Trustees are professionally trained and understand the rules of Medicaid and SSI. Service is personalized for the needs of each beneficiary.

Each person has their own sub-account. Much like a bank, sub-accounts are “pooled” for management and investment purposes.

What are sub-accounts invested in?

Investments are in low-risk, high-fluidity money markets. This allows trustees to manage accounts more cost-effectively, resulting in lower costs to the beneficiaries.

DOCUMENTS & COST

All documents are already drafted and approved by NYS Medicaid and SSA.

This reduces the cost and time typically associated with drafting and approving documents through an individual attorney or financial institution.

Creating an account takes less than a week, and has low minimum finding requirements ($250).

REVIEW DOCUMENTS

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS

Community Trust I can help a person with disabilities keep their funds from sources including, but not limited to:

Inheritance
Proceeds from a settlement
Monthly income spend-down for Medicaid*
Retroactive benefit payments
Child support or alimony
Lottery winnings

*A “spend-down” type trust is similar to a Community Trust I (all of the enrollment documents and requirements are the same) but requires additional approval from the county in which the beneficiary resides. This can extend the enrollment timeline. Application acceptance in this circumstance is at the discretion of the Board of Managers and the county.

SPEND ON WHAT MATTERS

Trust funds can be used for items and services not covered by benefits, including but not limited to:

Medical and dental care
Education
Assistive equipment
Transportation
Entertainment and recreation
Home modifications
Rent**, utilities**, household items
Medicaid-eligible funeral arrangements***

** SSA may count these items as In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM), which could reduce the beneficiary’s SSI payment.

***Medicaid-eligible includes burial fund and arrangements made prior to the death of the beneficiary. The beneficiary’s trust account closes directly upon their death. Funeral expenses after their death cannot be paid for by the trust.

STRAIGHTFORWARD ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Enrollment process is straightforward. Applicants can contact the Director of Trust Services (ContactUs@MyChoiceTrust.org) anytime to learn more about the process.

Visit our “Where to Begin” page to learn more funding the trust and what it can be used to pay for.

WHERE TO BEGIN

COMMUNITY TRUST I DOCUMENTS

Visit the Document Library to find all documents associated with Community Trust I.

COMMUNITY TRUST I DOCUMENTS

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Community Trust I

Fee Calculator

HOW COMMUNITY TRUST I WORKS

MANAGEMENT

What are sub-accounts invested in?

DOCUMENTS & COST

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS

SPEND ON WHAT MATTERS

STRAIGHTFORWARD ENROLLMENT PROCESS

COMMUNITY TRUST I DOCUMENTS

CONTACT US

CONTACT US

CONTACT US