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Third-Party

Pooled Special Needs Trust (PSNT)

A Third-Party PSNT is established by a parent, relative, or friend of the beneficiary, and can be coordinated with an estate plan, insurance policy, or gift.

Joining Documentation

Funding the Sub-account

The most common way trusts are funded is through the Grantor’s will, estate plan, life insurance policy, or employee benefit. The trust can also be funded by a gift, bequest, or inheritance. CCT accepts cash assets for deposit into the trust; no real estate or non-cash assets are accepted. Once funded, the trust is irrevocable.



Once the Grantor completes the Joinder Agreement and other forms, the trust is set up and waiting to be funded. There is no expectation that the account be funded immediately. The account is available to receive funds (cash/check) from any source and at any time. When appropriate it is helpful to notify family members and others about the Beneficiary’s special needs trust account and that funds be directed to the special needs trust with CCT and not given or left directly to the individual (see sample letter).

How Funds in the Trust Can Be Used

The funds can be used to pay for expenses that will enhance the quality of life for the Beneficiary. Disbursements can be requested from the trust by a Primary or Secondary Advocate. Bills are paid by check to vendors or reimbursed to the Advocate or in certain circumstances a credit card is made available and funded by the Beneficiary’s trust account.


For more information, see our Disbursement Information Manual.


Disbursement Information Manual

  • Disbursement requests are reviewed and approved based on the following criteria:

    • Is the request in the best interest of the Beneficiary?  
    • Is the request related to the health, education, maintenance and support of the Beneficiary?  
    • Are there adequate funds in the trust to cover the request?  
    • Is the request prudent?  
    • Was supporting documentation provided?
    • Is the Beneficiary a minor?  

  • Examples include, but are not limited to:

    • Medical and Dental Services not covered by insurance
    • Assistive Technology
    • Eyeglasses, Hearing Aids, and Prosthetic Devices
    • Pre-paid Burial Expenses
    • Computer and Internet Services
    • Education Expenses
    • Caregiver Expenses
    • Home Modifications
    • Clothing and Furniture

Additional Third-Party Resources

Third-Party Grantor Vision

The Grantor Vision and Information Form is an opportunity for the grantor to share their vision for how they wish for the trust to be used and additional information about the beneficiary.

Third-Party Remainder Policy

The Remainder Policy determines what happens to the remaining trust funds upon the death of the Beneficiary.

Important Definitions

  • Pooled Trust

    Each Beneficiary’s funds are placed in an individual sub-account. The cash assets from all sub-accounts are then “pooled” together, and are invested and managed by True Link Financial Advisors. True Link Financial Advisors is the investment manager to the Trust, not the individual beneficiaries. True Link Financial Advisors does not provide investment advice or services to the individual beneficiaries of the Trust.


    Pooling the funds is intended to reduce administrative fees with the goal of increasing the principal for investment purposes. Account statements are available online and mailed quarterly.

  • Beneficiary

    The Beneficiary is someone with special needs for whose benefit the trust was created.




  • Advocate

    The Advocate(s) is an important part of the Beneficiary’s team and works closely with CCT staff. The Advocate(s) is authorized to make disbursement requests by signing and submitting the Payment Request Form to CCT and may receive confidential financial information about the Beneficiary’s sub-Account.


    The Advocate(s) is usually named by the Grantor(s) on the CCT Joinder Agreement (the legal document to join the trust), and may be the Beneficiary, a Guardian, Conservator, Power of Attorney, family member, case worker, friend, and/or someone who is trusted and familiar with the needs of the Beneficiary.


    However, CCT has sole discretion to decide what distributions are in the Beneficiary’s best interest and permitted under the terms of the trust, as well as when to share information.




Additional Definitions

Have questions?

If you have any questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 804-740-6930 or email us at info@trustcct.org. Our staff is available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.


Mailing Address:

Commonwealth Community Trust
P.O. Box 29408
Richmond, VA 23242-0408


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