Thank you, Voya Financial for sponsoring this post so we can all learn more about financial planning for people with disabilities or special needs and their families.
In my opinion, raising two children with Down syndrome is a very typical experience with its ups and downs like any other parenting adventure. In general, it’s nothing out of the ordinary: you raise your children like everyone else does with a focus on their individual needs and gifts. As any other good parent would do, you are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure their well-being and their optimal growth.
I’ve grown along with my children to understand and accept that, for now at least, I am their best advocate, and that even though few things ever come easily, I can make things happen and I will continue to do so as long as I am alive. And then it comes the question that I feel unable to answer: what if things don’t go as planned and I cannot be there for them?
I have to be honest, that question brings tears to my eyes almost immediately. My existential drama then surfaces and I want to believe that there is a higher power which would never allow my children to be hurt, and then I realize believing in this is not enough. I must take action to advocate for my family even after I’m gone, and in this case, action translates into smart planning.
For this reason, I was very excited when Voya Financial invited me to learn more about their commitment to helping all Americans retire better and to make a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities as well as their families and caregivers. Their approach helps us think differently about our financial future with more optimistic expectations about tomorrow. They instill confidence which can really help overcome our natural fears in order to face the fact that we can’t predict the future – but we can always plan for it.
I am completely against predicting an individual’s future based on his or her diagnosis but something I can’t deny is that living with special needs brings an intense need for understanding the system
This enables families to make the right decisions and ensure our children with disabilities receive comprehensive services so they can live the best possible life in all the areas of development. In their “Planning Checklist” section, Voya provides useful information about disability-related services which may include Social Security Income, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and more. People with disabilities are not entitled to any of these benefits based on their diagnosis alone, but they can offer relief and support in times of crisis.
Do you know the difference between a Will and a Letter of Intent?
Find the answer here, and go ahead and discuss it with your partner, relatives, and close friends. The sooner the better. It’s never too early to determine who you can count on in case of an emergency. No matter how amazing we are as parents and how hard we work to support our children to live to the best of their abilities, we cannot predict the future. What we can do is build a system right now so that our children continue to be cared for in the best possible way, even if we’re gone.
Visit Voya Financial’s “Key Considerations for Special Needs Financial Planning,” and take control, take action. Do so out of love for the ones who depend on you and deserve the best life possible even if you are no longer there for them in the future. https://www.voya.com/voyacares
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