2025 New York Special Needs Planning Guide

Pierro Law - Special Needs Planning Guide Cover 2025

For more than 40 years, Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC has helped New York families protect what matters most through careful planning.

In this 2025 Special Needs Planning Guide, our attorneys share essential insights for families raising or caring for a loved one with disabilities—including how to:

secure care
preserve eligibility for benefits
build a plan that provides stability for life

Expert Guidance for Families Across New York

Every year, millions of Americans serve as caregivers, and one in five people in the U.S. lives with some form of disability.

This growing population faces challenges that extend beyond medical care, from navigating Medicaid and SSI eligibility to ensuring lifetime support when parents or caregivers are no longer able to provide it.

Our 2025 guide distills decades of real-world experience into clear, actionable advice for families in New York.

You’ll learn how to coordinate legal, financial, and care planning to meet your loved one’s needs and maintain their quality of life.

Download the Guide

What Our Clients Have to Say

After a devastating medical event, I would have lost everything that my husband and I had worked for our entire lives. With Frank Hemming’s and Aaron Connor’s knowledge and expertise, we are able to live without the worry of financial loss. I would highly recommend this firm for their help with protecting your assets.

Carole, Poestenkill

I recently had the pleasure of working with Tommaso Marasco to prepare some important paperwork. He was exceptionally thorough, professional, and efficient. Tommaso took the time to explain the details and ensured all documents were accurate and complete. I highly recommend him for any legal needs.

Frank, NYC

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Teacher assisting blind special needs student in the library

What You’ll Learn in the Guide

The Special Needs Planning Guide explains how to:

Build a Future Care Plan that outlines caregiving roles, medical needs, and life preferences.
Understand Supplemental Needs Trusts (SNTs) — how they protect eligibility for Medicaid and SSI while providing additional support.
Use ABLE Accounts to save tax-advantaged funds without endangering benefits.
Plan for Retirement Assets under the SECURE Act 2.0, which allows disabled beneficiaries to stretch distributions over their lifetimes.
Avoid guardianship pitfalls through advance directives, powers of attorney, and health care proxies.
Coordinate advocacy and benefits — from OPWDD services to the Children’s HCBS Waiver and SSDI.

The guide also explains how New York’s programs compare to those in other states, for instance, its relatively generous Community Medicaid benefits, and how families can take advantage of those programs with proper trust planning.

Download the Guide

Meet the Attorneys Behind the Guide

The Special Needs Planning Guide was created by the team at Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC, a firm known for its leadership in elder law, special needs, estate planning, and business succession.

Louis W. Pierro, Esq.

Founding Partner

Founder of Pierro, Connor & Strauss, Louis Pierro is nationally recognized for his leadership in elder law and special needs planning. His passion for helping families plan for care grew from personal experience—and continues to guide his decades-long commitment to empowering clients to age with dignity.

Aaron E. Connor, Esq.

Managing Partner

A seasoned litigator and problem-solver, Aaron Connor thrives on complexity. From trust disputes to guardianships, he designs smart, tailored strategies that protect clients’ rights and preserve their families’ legacies.

Frank E. Hemming III, Esq.

Partner

Frank Hemming found his calling in elder law, helping families protect assets and access care. He leads Pierro, Connor & Strauss clients through complex Medicaid and long-term care planning with calm expertise and genuine compassion.

Planning Ahead Is the Greatest Act of Care

Families often delay planning because it feels overwhelming but, as the guide explains, the greatest risk lies in waiting. Early preparation allows you to:

Protect assets while maintaining access to vital services.
Reduce stress by clarifying who will handle financial and caregiving duties.
Ensure continuity of care and quality of life for your loved one.
Give future trustees and guardians the information they’ll need to make compassionate, informed decisions.

A well-crafted plan isn’t static—it evolves as your family’s needs change. This guide helps you start that process with confidence.

Build a Secure Future with Trusted New York Special Needs Planning Lawyers

Whether you’re beginning the planning process or updating an existing strategy, the attorneys at Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC can help you craft a comprehensive, customized plan for a loved one with a disability.

If you have questions or would like personalized guidance, contact our team today. We’re here to provide the trusted counsel that has guided New York families for over four decades.

Download the Guide

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2025 New York Special Needs Planning Guide

Download Our Special Needs Planning Guide

Expert Guidance for Families Across New York

What Our Clients Have to Say

What You’ll Learn in the Guide

Meet the Attorneys Behind the Guide

Louis W. Pierro, Esq.

Aaron E. Connor, Esq.

Frank E. Hemming III, Esq.

Planning Ahead Is the Greatest Act of Care

Build a Secure Future with Trusted New York Special Needs Planning Lawyers

A Big Change for Medicaid Applicants with IRAs

Revocable Trusts vs. Irrevocable Trusts: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Actually Need?

Pierro, Connor & Strauss Attorneys Honored by Best Lawyers®

The OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and its Effect on Estate Planning

Essential Planning Considerations for LGBTQ+ Adults

Unlocking the Power of Trusts in Estate Planning

6 Facets of Estate Planning That LGBTQ+ Couples Should Know

Asset Transfers and Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts

Estate Tax Law Changes – What To Do Now

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