F-6900, Undue Hardship

Revision 09-4; Effective December 1, 2009

When application of the trust provisions would create an undue hardship, those provisions do not apply. Undue hardship exists when application of the trust provisions would deprive the person of medical care so that his health or his life would be endangered. Undue hardship also exists when application of the trust provisions would deprive the person of food, clothing, shelter or other necessities of life.

Undue hardship does not exist if a person is inconvenienced or must restrict his lifestyle, but is not at risk of serious deprivation. Undue hardship relates to hardship to the person, not relatives or responsible parties of the person.

Before requesting a waiver of the trust provisions on the grounds of undue hardship, the person must make reasonable efforts to recover assets placed in trust, such as petitioning the court to dissolve the trust. If a person claims undue hardship, HHSC must make a decision on the situation as soon as possible, but within 30 days of receipt of the request for a waiver of the trust policy. The person has the right to appeal an adverse decision on undue hardship.

Minimum case documentation includes a written statement explaining the person's or grantor's reasons for establishing the trust, why the person's needs cannot be met and why there is undue hardship for the person.

The supervisor must sign off on all undue hardship cases.