The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows many medical and dental expenses to be deducted from a person's income, provided he or she itemizes the deductions. A person may deduct only the amount of his or her total expenses that exceeds seven and a half percent of his/her adjusted gross income. 

There are many medical and dental expenses that can be deducted. The IRS website has a list of items that you can include when figuring your medical and dental deductions.

Other tax credits include:

• Child and Dependant Care Credit:  A tax credit may be available if a person pays for the care of a dependent under the age of thirteen or of a spouse or dependent who is unable to care for him or herself.
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses: If a person has a physical or mental disability that functionally limits his or her employment, or a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, he or she may be able to claim impairment-related work expenses.
• Visit the IRS website for additional information on tax credits.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows many medical and dental expenses to be deducted from a person's income, provided he or she itemizes the deductions. A person may deduct only the amount of his or her total expenses that exceeds seven and a half percent of his/her adjusted gross income. 

There are many medical and dental expenses that can be deducted. The IRS website has a list of items that you can include when figuring your medical and dental deductions.

Other tax credits include:

• Child and Dependant Care Credit:  A tax credit may be available if a person pays for the care of a dependent under the age of thirteen or of a spouse or dependent who is unable to care for him or herself.
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses: If a person has a physical or mental disability that functionally limits his or her employment, or a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, he or she may be able to claim impairment-related work expenses.
• Visit the IRS website for additional information on tax credits.

Special IRS assistance is available for persons with disabilities who are unable to complete their return because of a physical disability.  Assistance may be obtained from an IRS office or the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. 

Telephone help for people with impaired hearing is available using TDD equipment in either English or Spanish. The toll-free number for this service is 1-800-829-4059. People who do not have this equipment may be able to obtain access to it through federal or state relay services. The IRS TDD service is available twenty-four hours a day. 

The IRS has tax publications in Braille and text formats.  Braille materials for the visually impaired are available at any of the 142 regional libraries in conjunction with the national library service for the blind and physically handicapped. 

Locate the nearest library online or write to:

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street, Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20542

Special IRS assistance is available for persons with disabilities who are unable to complete their return because of a physical disability.  Assistance may be obtained from an IRS office or the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. 

Telephone help for people with impaired hearing is available using TDD equipment in either English or Spanish. The toll-free number for this service is 1-800-829-4059. People who do not have this equipment may be able to obtain access to it through federal or state relay services. The IRS TDD service is available twenty-four hours a day. 

The IRS has tax publications in Braille and text formats.  Braille materials for the visually impaired are available at any of the 142 regional libraries in conjunction with the national library service for the blind and physically handicapped. 

Locate the nearest library online or write to:

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street, Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20542

The EITC, sometimes called the Earned Income Credit (EIC), is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The credit reduces the amount of federal tax owed and can result in a refund check.

The EITC does not generally affect eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or food stamps.

For information about how the EITC applies to those in the military, see the IRS Special EITC Rules page.

The EITC, sometimes called the Earned Income Credit (EIC), is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The credit reduces the amount of federal tax owed and can result in a refund check.

The EITC does not generally affect eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or food stamps.

For information about how the EITC applies to those in the military, see the IRS Special EITC Rules page.

Estate planning is the process of deciding how personal possessions will be divided and distributed among relatives and friends when a person dies. An estate includes what a person owns or possesses such as a home, car, money in savings or checking accounts, life insurance policies, stocks, bonds, furniture, or other personal possessions. All families should develop an estate plan regardless of their income level as a way to safeguard their family members' assets in the future. There is no "right way" to create an estate plan; it should be tailored to meet the family's specific needs. Families may wish to consult a legal assistance attorney for advice on a will, an advance medical directive, power of attorney, and/or other legal documents.

An estate plan may include the following:

• Will: A will is a legal document that directs how one's property is to be distributed among his or her survivors. It should be drafted to ensure that it is valid in the state where a person declares residency.
• Trust: A trust is a mechanism for managing the distribution of the estate. Property in the trust is held and managed by another person or institution, like a bank, for the benefit of those for whom the trust is created.
• Life insurance policies:These policies can provide funds for one's survivors. Other financial resources may be available to the family through Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Uniformed Services Survivor Benefit Plan.

Estate Planning with Exceptional Family Members

Bequeathing assets worth more than $2,000 to a family member with a disability may jeopardize their eligibility for government benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. In addition to the cash benefits and medical coverage that would be lost, the person may also lose other government benefits, such as supported employment and vocational rehabilitation services, group housing, job coaches, personal attendant care, and transportation assistance. A legal assistance attorney can explain issues like this and provide families with strategies for avoiding unintended consequences when drafting a will or a trust. Families may also want to decide whether to appoint a guardian for their exceptional family member who would be legally responsible for their care.

Calculating a Child's Financial Needs for the Future

For an older child who is already receiving government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Incomes, begin by calculating what he or she spends over and above those benefits. If the child is younger, parents need to project what that child may be spending in the future. Remember that there are services that parents provide that could represent future expenses for the child after a parent's death, including the costs associated with having a guardian or advocate. Remember to set aside funds for emergency medical needs or dental care as well.

Estate planning is the process of deciding how personal possessions will be divided and distributed among relatives and friends when a person dies. An estate includes what a person owns or possesses such as a home, car, money in savings or checking accounts, life insurance policies, stocks, bonds, furniture, or other personal possessions. All families should develop an estate plan regardless of their income level as a way to safeguard their family members' assets in the future. There is no "right way" to create an estate plan; it should be tailored to meet the family's specific needs. Families may wish to consult a legal assistance attorney for advice on a will, an advance medical directive, power of attorney, and/or other legal documents.

An estate plan may include the following:

• Will: A will is a legal document that directs how one's property is to be distributed among his or her survivors. It should be drafted to ensure that it is valid in the state where a person declares residency.
• Trust: A trust is a mechanism for managing the distribution of the estate. Property in the trust is held and managed by another person or institution, like a bank, for the benefit of those for whom the trust is created.
• Life insurance policies:These policies can provide funds for one's survivors. Other financial resources may be available to the family through Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the Uniformed Services Survivor Benefit Plan.

Estate Planning with Exceptional Family Members

Bequeathing assets worth more than $2,000 to a family member with a disability may jeopardize their eligibility for government benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. In addition to the cash benefits and medical coverage that would be lost, the person may also lose other government benefits, such as supported employment and vocational rehabilitation services, group housing, job coaches, personal attendant care, and transportation assistance. A legal assistance attorney can explain issues like this and provide families with strategies for avoiding unintended consequences when drafting a will or a trust. Families may also want to decide whether to appoint a guardian for their exceptional family member who would be legally responsible for their care.

Calculating a Child's Financial Needs for the Future

For an older child who is already receiving government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Incomes, begin by calculating what he or she spends over and above those benefits. If the child is younger, parents need to project what that child may be spending in the future. Remember that there are services that parents provide that could represent future expenses for the child after a parent's death, including the costs associated with having a guardian or advocate. Remember to set aside funds for emergency medical needs or dental care as well.

To learn more about eligibility for Social Security benefits, complete the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program may provide food for children below the age of five or pregnant women. TRICARE debt counselors and family support centers can also help.

To learn more about eligibility for Social Security benefits, complete the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool. The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program may provide food for children below the age of five or pregnant women. TRICARE debt counselors and family support centers can also help.

It is important to begin your financial planning early and to understand the income and asset limitations of federal programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and how losing SSI might negatively influence a child’s access to other services.

It is important to begin your financial planning early and to understand the income and asset limitations of federal programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and how losing SSI might negatively influence a child’s access to other services.