July Newsletter

Welcoming New Trusts, Thoughtful Disbursements,
Staff Who Lead with Care

I am pleased to announce that we have successfully completed the transfer of 52 Third-Party Trust and 3 First-Party Trust beneficiaries from a nationwide pooled special needs trust program to CCT. 

The following is a note written to me by Kelly Beekman, Trust Administrator, who worked closely with the Camphill Resident’s Trust Board of Trustees on the decision to choose CCT.

“It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that the Camphill Resident's Trust Board of Trustees met last night and has voted unanimously to select Commonwealth Community Trust as the Successor Trustee for the Camphill Resident's Trust pooled trust. 

We had a lively conversation amongst the Trustees. The committee members shared recollections of our meetings together with CCT, citing your commitment to professionalism and care for your beneficiaries. We spoke about your relationship with True Link and how it will provide exceptional service to the families we serve. And we also spoke about your leadership as CEO and the diversity on your Board. Many remarked on your forethought in the marketplace and your ability to grow steadily while maintaining a corporate ethos of care, compassion, and service.”

We welcome the opportunity to take trust transfers from a wide range of sources—including banks, trust companies, nonprofit organizations, attorneys, financial planners, and others. Regardless of why the trust assets are being transferred or decanted, we accept the transfers with care and respect. Being chosen to carry forward the responsibility of a trust is an honor we don’t take lightly. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting beneficiaries and their families, and we work hard to ensure a seamless and thoughtful transition. We have a webpage dedicated to trust transfers, and we welcome your phone calls to learn more.

This month's newsletter highlights the process of handling disbursement requests with interesting examples. The FAQ provides an opportunity to view a video about CCT which begins with the story of our founding by a group of parents who have a son or daughter with a disability and a volunteer attorney. Their vision was to establish a local nonprofit organization to administer special needs trusts. They did not anticipate that we would grow to serve 3,296 beneficiaries throughout the United States and be recognized as a leader in the special needs trust industry.

I would like to highlight our staff, as I am so proud of each member of the team. Meg is featured, and I remember during her interview how impressed I was with Meg’s intellect and willingness to take on any task needed. Meg said that she particularly enjoys talking with our beneficiaries and advocates and working in a helping profession. That means a lot to me and reflects part of our code of ethics to serve with kindness, empathy and respect while providing client-centered and caring service.

I hope that the newsletter is informative and helpful in your work. Please let us know what you think, as suggestions are always welcome. 

With gratitude for the opportunity to serve our clients and the trust you have in us,

Joanne Marcus, MSW

President & CEO

jmarcus@trustCCT.org

804-740-6930

(Click the Image to Watch the Video)

FAQ

Question: 

My client is interested in setting up a Third-Party sub-account with CCT to include in their estate plan.  What materials should they review before they call or email you? 

Answer: 

We would love to work with your clients who are interested in setting up a Third-Party Special Needs Trust for a loved one with a disability!  We have a video that gives you and your prospective clients an overview of CCT and the onboarding process, which may answer many of their questions. In addition, we encourage prospective clients to look at our Third-Party webpage, which includes the Grantor Vision form, which they can use to share their wishes for how we can serve the beneficiary, as well as the Joinder Agreement and the Process of Joining checklist, which lays out the documents that are needed to set up a sub-account. While we provide fantastic online resources, our New Client staff are available 9AM to 5PM ET by email or phone (804-740-6930), and we are happy to answer questions. 

Our Client Services Staff Who Sets Us Apart

Meg Armstrong is one of Commonwealth Community Trust’s invaluable administrative staff. This team is responsible for triaging phone calls, entering and processing payment requests and other important documents, as well as ensuring that our clients feel cared for at their first point of contact. Meg comes to CCT with a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from William & Mary college and has been with the company for over 2 years. 

When asked about her work at CCT, Meg shared, "Having grown up in a low-income household with a disabled parent, the situations our clients face sometimes hit close to home for me in a way that infuses even more personal meaning into the work I do here. I’m so grateful that I get to come to work every day and be accepted for who I am and appreciated for what I bring to the table, all while knowing that I am helping to provide security to those in some of our society’s most vulnerable and precarious positions.” 

CCT is a stronger organization for having Meg on staff. 

A Day in the Life of the Disbursement Committee

Attorneys and other professionals frequently ask on behalf of their clients - How, exactly, does a beneficiary access his or her trust account?

This process begins with a request. An advocate, who may be the beneficiary or a trusted friend, family member, or professional, identifies a need the beneficiary has and submits it to CCT. Over the years, we have expanded the ways our beneficiaries can request funds. This can be by email or fax, or through our website or confidential portal. Funds can also be requested through our mobile app, the newest method. The app has proven popular, especially among our more tech-savvy beneficiaries and advocates – an ever-increasing population. 

With funds approved by the Disbursement Committee, beneficiary Eli built a custom cat wall for his beloved pets. His dogs and cats are his close companions, and he takes great joy in caring for them and watching them run and play. 

Many of these requests can be handled by the individual Client Services Coordinator assigned to that beneficiary. Our Client Services Coordinators are masters-educated professionals, most of whom are social workers, whose job includes evaluating payment requests. However, some requests are more complicated or require additional consideration due to the size of the request or other factors. 

To handle these requests, CCT’s Disbursement Committee meets twice weekly. Discussions include exploring whether the expense is prudent and in the sole or best interest of the beneficiary, and whether each request should be approved, denied, approved with stipulations, or if additional information or documentation is required. 

Conferences & Presentations

July

1. July 10-12, 2025 | Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys - Summer Meeting
2. July 24-26, 2025 | North Carolina Bar Association - 43rd Annual Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Program 

August

1. August 1, 2025 | Lawline - Lawline Webcast- CLE Presentation by Ben Tiefenback, Esq.- Pooled Special Needs Trusts: An Important Tool to Protect Clients & Preserve Public Benefits 
2. August 7-9, 2025 | South Carolina Advocates for Justice - Annual Convention
3. August 27, 2025 | Strafford CLE Presentation by Rachel Baer, Esq. and Ben Tiefenback, Esq. Webinar  Medicare Set-Asides, Pooled Trusts, and Public Benefits: A Practical Guide for Attorneys 

September

1. September 11, 2025 | Virginia CLE Advanced Elder Law Seminar 
2. September 12, 2025 | Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (VAELA) Fall Conference 
3. September 16, 2025 | National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - Lunch and Learn - CLE Optional Presentation by Ben Tiefenback, Esq.- Pooled Special Needs Trusts: How to Make Confident, Informed Recommendations 
4. September 18, 2025 | Society of Settlement Planners - Webinar- Presentation by Ben Tiefenback, Esq.- How to Evaluate Pooled Trusts 

(Click the Image to Watch the Video)