Clinical Case Management for Persons with Disabilities

 Case Management Program-Features

Case Management services are available to supplement the family’s efforts to provide support to their loved one with a disability.

·        PLAN partners with the family to supplement and extend care by family members.

·        Examples of available Clinical Case Management services include:

o       Counseling - PLAN staff members provide professional counseling to assist clients and families with problem solving, life events, and general mental health support.

o       Assistance applying for public benefits - PLAN case managers help clients apply for all their entitlements, such as Medicaid and Social Security funds and serves as advocates with government agencies.

o       Budgeting / Bill Payment / Escrow account management - PLAN can act as representative payee for clients and manage escrow accounts for benefit payments and allowances for rent and other personal expenses.

o       Assistance applying for housing and vocational rehabilitation programs - PLAN refers clients to housing sources, including supported programs and helps with applications.  Case managers help with the transition to independent living and monitor client progress.  PLAN helps clients with job applications and steers them to job-training programs such as the Maryland Division of Rehabilitative Services.  PLAN case managers counsel clients on work habits and monitor their progress by contact with employers.

o       Coordinating medical care - PLAN helps clients obtain necessary medical services and monitors care through contact with physicians, hospital staff and other providers involved in the client's treatment. 

o       Socialization groups & activities -  PLAN works with clients to develop interpersonal skills, encourages socialization, and links clients to programs that help them develop social skills, interests, and contacts.

PLAN’s Unique Case Management Qualifications

·        PLAN has been providing case management services for individuals with disabilities (especially mental illness) for over 25 years.

·        All clinical case managers are licensed, masters level social workers or licensed professional counselors.

·        PLAN clinical staff develops a Personal Plan of Care for each case management client to ensure that services are responsive to individual needs.

·        PLAN’s case management service can be enhanced by providing escrow account and budget management services.

 Budgeting / Escrow Account Management – Features

 PLAN is available to receive funds from SSI, SSDI, trusts, and families and to use those funds for the benefit of the individual with a disability.

·        PLAN is available to serve as representative payee for Social Security (SSI/SSDI)

·        Funds come directly to PLAN from SSI/SSDI, trust accounts and family donations

·        Bills for client expenses can be sent directly to PLAN


PLAN’s Unique Qualifications for Budgeting / Escrow Account Management

·        Over 25 years of experience

·        Budget developed by experienced case managers working in partnership with the family and client

·        Monthly and annual reporting to family and/or client detailing income and expenditures

·        Coordination between Case Management, Trust Management and Escrow Account Management.

Third Party Trusts - Features

A third party discretionary trust is a vehicle with which family members and friends can provide funds for the benefit of an individual with a disability, without jeopardizing the disabled individual’s eligibility for means tested benefits such as SSI and Medical Assistance. PLAN offers a Master Discretionary Trust which members can join. The features of that trust includes:

·        No minimum corpus required to establish trust

·        Trusts may be established during the donor’s lifetime or through provisions in a will

·        Trustee fees are currently 1.5% of the balance of the corpus

·        Settlors join existing Master Discretionary Trust by executing Joinder Agreement (Under some conditions PLAN will assume role of trustee for existing third party trusts)

·        Settlor names a Trust Protector who has the authority to change the trustee

·        Trust funds are professionally invested by Wealth Advisors Group / Raymond James

·        Monthly reports of expenditures and investments are provided to the Settlor, and if appropriate, to their attorney


Self Settled Trusts - Features

A self-settled trust provides a vehicle for individuals with disabilities who receive financial resources (e.g. large lump sum SSI payments, awards from tort actions, direct inheritances) to shelter those resources so as to avoid losing SSI / Medicaid eligibility. When PLAN serves as Trustee:

·        No minimum corpus required to establish trust

·        Trustee fees are currently 1.5% of the balance of the corpus

·        Trust funds professionally invested by Wealth Advisors Group / Raymond James

·        Monthly reports of expenditures and investments provided to Settlor

·        Monthly reports available on request to attorney establishing the Trust on request

 
PLAN’s Unique Qualifications as Trustee

·        PLAN was established more than 25 years ago. Our history, and our current strength as an organization, ensures that we will be there when we are needed.

·        Trusts include provision for a family selected Trust Protected to preserve family involvement with the trust

·        PLAN is experienced in working with individuals with disabilities, especially the mentally ill

o       Licensed masters level social workers / professional counselors support the Trust Office

·        PLAN clinical staff develops a Personal Plan of Care for each Trust beneficiary to ensure that the trust is responsive to individual needs.