Planning for the Future: Estate Planning and Government Benefits for Families of People with Disabilities

8:00 - 9:00 AM - Registration/Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM - Welcome Remarks

9:15 - 10:30 AM - Overview of Government Benefits 
Presenter: Matt Bailey, MA Benefits & Trust  Administration Supervisor, Achieva Family Trust
This session will offer a clear, practical overview of the major government benefits available to individuals with disabilities, including Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. Families will learn how these programs work, how eligibility is determined, and what supports they provide. 

10:30 - 10:45 AM - Break

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM - Estate Planning to Protect a Family Member with Disabilities
Presenter: Jessica Rafferty, Esq. 
This session provides an overview of the legal tools that help protect the long‑term well‑being of a loved one with a disability. Jessica Rafferty will explain how special needs trusts, guardianship, and powers of attorney work, and how each option supports financial security, decision‑making, and continued access to essential benefits. Families will learn when these tools are appropriate, how they fit together in a broader estate plan, and what steps they can take now to build stability for the future. 

12:00 - 12:30 PM - Achieva Family Trust Program Offerings/Conference Wrap Up
Presenter: Rebecca Tyers Brown, Director of Trust Administration, Achieva Family Trust
Learn about the support and resources available through Achieva Family Trust, including how our trusts are administered to protect long‑term financial security, how our benefits counseling team helps individuals understand and maintain essential government benefits, and how our grant program provides financial assistance for disability‑related needs not covered elsewhere.