If the individual is filing for SSI or Medicaid, funds which exceed the resource limit can be put into a burial fund in order to make the applicant eligible for benefits. Excess funds may be used to prepay funeral expenses, purchase cemetery plots, markers, etc. Perhaps you and your spouse are planning to move to another state when you both retire. In terms of relocation, it is important to know that every state has different qualifications, paperwork and waiting periods for setting up services and residences for people with developmental disabilities. Residential services will require a longer waiting period, with some states reporting as much as a three to four year waiting list.
Many states require that a relative or guardian live in the state with the person with disabilities.
The agency will be able to tell you about the requirements, paperwork and waiting time for each state. There is a considerable amount of paperwork involved and it is critical, therefore, that you plan for the move well in advance. Moves within New York State take less time but also require paperwork and planning. Please consult your local service agency and inform them of your plans to move as soon as you have made such arrangements.