RESOURCE FAIR RECAP

Our hearts are still full from the Resource Fair we hosted Sept. 14 at Leo Baeck Temple. We were honored to bring together teens and adults with disabilities, their families and caregivers, with disability advocates and experts from all around the Los Angeles area to connect with each other. Thank you to everyone who attended — we loved having all of you in the same room!

OUR NEW LOGO

JLA Trust opened its doors in 2016, with a vision to help make sure people with disabilities were living their best lives possible, and to make special needs trusts more accessible for people with disabilities from all backgrounds, with all levels of income. Now, almost 10 years later, we're proud to be serving more than 220 clients and managing over $14.5 million in our pooled trust accounts... and since we've changed and grown, it's time our branding got a little update as well. We're excited to give you a first look at our new logo and look! Let us know what you think.


UPCOMING WEBINAR

Navigating the System: Your Guide to Government Benefits & Special Needs Trusts
Wednesday, Jan 14, 2026, 3:30 PM


Join us to learn more about special needs trusts, government benefits like SSI, SSDI, and Medi-Cal, and planning ahead financially for people with disabilities in this free webinar. We will also discuss the impact of upcoming changes to Medicaid because of federal legislation.

NEW GOVERNMENT RULES

There are a lot of changes brewing in different government benefits. Starting January 1, 2026, the following new government rules will take effect. These will impact many of our clients, along with many others in the community, so take note.


Key Changes:


  • CalABLE Account Age Expansion: Previously, CalABLE accounts were only available to those whose disability occurred before age 26, but starting in 2026, individuals whose disability occurred after age 26 but before age 46 will be eligible to open ABLE accounts. Great news, right? You can learn more here.


  • Medi-Cal Asset Limits Return: Medi-Cal eliminated asset limits in 2024, but they're about to be back. Starting January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal enrollees will need to be under of $130,000 for an individual or $195,000 for couples to be eligible for the program.


  • 2.8% Increase for SSI and SSDI Recipients: Monthly payments for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients will increase by 2.8% based on the cost-of-living adjustment. Maximum monthly SSI payments will be $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples in 2026. 
    
  • HUD Housing Program (HOTMA) Updates: The new rules under the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) include changes about what can be counted as net family assets for Section 8 recipients, including new exclusions of retirement accounts, federal tax refunds and refundable tax credits. You can read more about these changes here, but irrevocable trusts remain exempt from being counted as part of your assets.

VOLUNTEER FEATURE

Shira Liff-Grieff's career in communications has taken her all the way from Rwanda, where she empowered local students to tell their own stories, to the corporate consulting world, where she helped healthcare giants like Johnson & Johnson and Cepheid streamline their internal communications processes. But right now she's taking a moment to ask herself what else might pique her interest. And in the process of talking to the people around her, asking more about jobs and careers that others in her network have found meaningful, she landed on "professional fiduciary".


When you start asking the Los Angeles Jewish community how you might learn more about being a professional fiduciary, most roads lead to JLA Trust. And Shira has known our Executive Director for many years and was thrilled for an excuse to reach back out to her. Now, between her busy job as Maple Counseling Center, and her busy life as a parent and amateur chorale member, Shira's helping us follow up with potential clients, and getting an inside look at what our two Licensed Professional Fiduciaries work on every day. At a small non-profit like JLA Trust, it really takes a village to keep things running, and we're lucky to have Shira as part of ours right now.

JLA Trust

jlatrust.org | 310.773.9728

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