New child support guidelines recently became effective in Massachusetts on October 4, 2021. We felt it would be a good time to bring back a podcast Annette did last year with husband Mark Worthington in which both attorneys discuss divorce when you have a special needs child. While a majority of these new child support changes affect standard family law matters relating to divorce, a few will affect special needs planning. These changes mainly are regarding Social Security and how these benefits are viewed as income as related to the payor or the recipient.  We recently released a blog on these new Massachusetts child support changes which you can read here. There have also been a few other Social Security related matters recently introduced, unfortunately many are stuck in Congress. One in particular notes that Social Security rules related to benefit levels are so outdated that it forces disabled and elderly individuals into poverty.  The Social Security system needs and overhaul but they say they can’t afford it.   Make Your Voice Heard! This is the time to make your voice heard!  Talk to your policy makers, politicians – tell them what you need, what you want, tell them about your situation.  If you are not sure how to contact or find these people in your area, please reach out to us at Special Needs Companies and we will do our best to assist you with the information. In this prior episode of Parenting Impossible from 2020, Annette and her husband Mark Worthington discuss what you need to consider during the divorce process as a parent of a special needs child. Mark is Senior Counsel at Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts and a Professor of Law at Western New England University School of Law. He has also been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list every year since 2008. Divorce Brings New Challenges For Special Needs Parents Annette and Mark begin the show with a conversation about the increased number of people filing for divorce during the pandemic. The rise comes as more people have been forced to spend extended periods of time quarantined together. While divorce is a stressful process in general, it coHave you been searching for a law firm that understands the unique challenges of your family? We can help you at Special Needs Law Group put legal planning in place to protect you and your loved ones now and in the future. Book a free call today with our team or contact us via our website: specialneeds-law.com/contact.