Empowering Safe Spending: Setting up Guardrails with a True Link Card and Case Manager Support
Managing money is a lifelong skill—and for individuals with disabilities, mental health conditions, or executive functioning challenges, it can also be a daily source of stress. Our families often find themselves stuck between wanting to allow for freedom and needing to protect their loved one from financial risk.
The True Link card offers a practical, flexible solution and when paired with the guidance of a Case Manager, it becomes more than a budgeting tool. It becomes a step toward greater autonomy, dignity, and partnership.
What Is a True Link Card?
The True Link card is a Visa prepaid debit card designed specifically for people who benefit from support in managing their money. With built-in controls and customizable settings, it allows someone else, like a case manager or fiduciary, to support spending without restricting independence.
Key features include:
• Daily, weekly, or monthly spending limits
• Ability to block or allow specific merchants or categories
• Real-time transaction alerts for accountability
• Optional restrictions on cash withdrawals, online purchases, or subscriptions
• Easy, controlled fund reloading—without any chance of overdraw fees
How a Case Manager Can Support the Process
At Whitmire & Associates, our Case Managers work alongside clients and families to make the most of tools like a True Link card.
Here’s how we support:
1. Skill-Building with Support
We work directly with individuals to set realistic budgets, track spending, and build healthy financial habits over time. We meet our clients where they are and help them move toward greater independence.
2. Reducing Family Tension
By serving as the point of contact, we help take parents out of the “gatekeeper” role. This shift protects family relationships and empowers individuals to take ownership while knowing someone is still in their corner.
3. Customizing the Card to Fit Real Life
We collaborate with our clients to tailor the card settings to reflect their routines and goals. Whether they’re learning how to shop for groceries, manage transit costs, or avoid risky purchases, we help design a system that supports their life.
4. Monitoring and Adjusting Over Time
Needs change. Our team reviews spending patterns, adjusts settings as needed, and communicates with the broader support team (parents, trustees, or financial representatives) to keep the plan aligned with the person’s goals and supports.
Who Benefits?
The True Link card is a smart option for:
Individuals motivated to learn how to budget
Beneficiaries of Special Needs Trusts
Individuals vulnerable to financial exploitation
Families who want a safe, empowering way to support spending
Rep payees seeking a compliant, easy-to-monitor solution for bookkeeping purposes*
A Tool for Dignity and Direction
Financial tools like the True Link card are most effective when embedded in a larger plan. At Whitmire & Associates, we use it as part of our Person-Centered Planning and private Case Management services, where budgeting isn’t just about numbers—it’s about living a full, connected life.
With a Case Manager in place, families don’t have to carry all the responsibility, and individuals don’t have to figure it out alone.
We’re here to help make money management safe, empowering, and truly person-centered.