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Families with children or adults with special needs are confronting cuts in services and assistance even as they look for more guidance to make financial and other pressing decisions, a new, in-depth MetLife study found. As they experience a harsher economic climate, family caregivers are seeking meaningful information to help with special needs planning for their dependent. “I do believe the resources in my community will continue to disappear… I think parents will have to be more creative,” noted a caregiver in California who was one of the 1,000 individuals who participated in the MetLife Center for Special Needs Planninga” 2011 Torn Security Blanket poll.

“The mixed picture painted by the poll findings and follow-up interviews with caregivers shows that a struggle exists for many of these families. Part of the struggle is to obtain useful information in a substantive context instead of scattered pieces from various sources. But at the same time we see the amazing perseverance of caregivers who are almost always willing to take a few additional steps in order to build a sounder financial framework for their dependents. This is an encouraging sign compared with our original study from six years ago,” said Kelly Piacenti, National Director of the MetLife Center for Special Needs Planning.

via Squeeze on Special Needs Services Confronts Families and Dependents – MarketWatch.