Naming your child as a beneficiary on your policy could put them at risk of losing public assistance like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Federal law mandates any person who receives a gift or inheritance over $2,000 can no longer receive benefits. In some cases, Medicaid may even try to recoup any benefits it paid if your child were to receive an insurance payout; It's best to set up a special needs trust for your child to avoid this outcome. The trust can be listed as your life insurance policy’s beneficiary. Through a trust, you can designate a trustee (typically another family member) and outline how your life insurance benefits should be used to care for your child after you're gone