July 9, 2021 Speaker Meeting

The July 9 meeting will include a presentation by Eileen Durkin on the topic of Special Needs Trust Planning and Trust Administration. This course is approved for 1.00 Illinois MCLE general credit hours.

The presentation will cover the legal framework of special needs trusts, allowable trust disbursements, and disbursement requests which challenge a trustee. Topics will include disbursements which may affect SSI benefits, Truelink cards, gift cards, vacations, birthday and Christmas gifts, private room payments, automobiles, and disbursement involving real estate. We will also cover changes in regulations involving special needs trusts.  

Since July 2004, Eileen Durkin has worked as an attorney for The Illinois Disability Association (IDA.) The IDA is a not-for-profit providing special needs trustee services for persons with disabilities, and, which serves as co-trustee with the CIBC Bank USA of the Illinois Disability Pooled Trust (IDPT.) The IDPT provides both self-settled and third-party settled trustee services. Courts across the State of Illinois have appointed the Illinois Disability Association as trustee under the IDPT in more than 900 cases, including for government guardian wards in over 600 cases. In total, the IDPT has served as trustee in over 1300 trusts. Eileen’s role at IDA includes handling court appearances on trust matters, intake and setting up of trust accounts, reviewing and processing disbursement requests and handling the closure of trust cases and the distribution of funds.    

From 1998 to 2004, Eileen Durkin worked as staff attorney for the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, Adult Guardianship Division. In addition to fiduciary related litigation, responsibilities included overseeing every facet of the adjudicated person with disabilities.  This responsibility included input on care-management and medical decisions, and being familiar with the arc of laws, resources and government programs related to effecting a successful plan for that person.  Eileen is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education events.