How We Help - The Arc of Texas

The Master Pooled Trust:

Serves any Texas resident who meets the definition of a person with a disability under the Social Security Act
Provides for the needs of people who have disabilities, while allowing them to remain eligible for government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income
Offers an affordable alternative to traditional bank trusts
Has low enrollment costs
Requires low minimum and no maximum funding requirements
Has low annual consultation fees for funded accounts; no annual fees for non-funded accounts
Is managed by The Arc of Texas, a nonprofit organization with over 60 years of experience in serving people with disabilities
Has simple and prompt disbursement procedures, with excellent customer service satisfaction ratings
Can be funded with the person's own money or with money from a friend or family member
Investments are professionally managed

Any Texas resident under the age of 65 who meets the Social Security Administration's definition of a person with a disability can benefit from the Master Pooled Trust. It is designed so that all individuals with disabilities and their families can benefit from the Master Pooled Trust.

Key Features of The Master Pooled Trust

MPT provides an ongoing source of income for beneficiary's supplemental needs.

For these purposes supplemental needs refer to anything other than food, housing and basic medical care. Government benefits including Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid will only pay for a person's primary living needs (food, housing, and basic medical care). The Master Pooled Trust is designed to provide another source of funds that can be used to pay for supplemental needs including but not limited to travel, entertainment, education, eyeglasses, insurance premiums, diapers, and other nonessential medical supplies and services.

MPT protects the beneficiary's government benefits.

MPT releases families from the responsibility of knowing Medicaid rules.

MPT and The Arc of Texas provide disability related support services and referrals to beneficiaries and their families.

MPT allows the beneficiary and their family to determine how the trust funds will be distributed.

The Arc of Texas' responsibility in approving requests is to ensure that funds will not be exhausted in a way that could jeopardize the beneficiary's eligibility for government benefits.
Even if the funder intends to fund the beneficiary's trust through a will or life insurance policy, the funder will have an opportunity to outline how they wish the funds to be distributed upon enrollment and completion of the legally binding Joinder Agreement.

The Arc of Texas will review and update the beneficiary's file annually to reflect current government regulations and the family's wishes.

MPT has low minimum and no maximum funding requirements.

MPT is more affordable than traditional bank trusts.

To ensure the health and safety of those we serve and our community, The Arc of Texas offices remain closed to the public. We are available by email trust@thearcoftexas.org and phone at 1-800-252-9729 or 512-454-6694.