The ABLE Act amends Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 to create tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and your disability began before you turned 26, you can open an ABLE account. These tax-advantaged savings accounts can be used to cover qualified disability expenses such as, but not limited to, education, housing and transportation.
An ABLE account allows someone to save money without losing benefits. Many benefits programs have resource limits, but you can have up to $100,000 in your ABLE account and keep getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, as long as you meet all other SSI rules. If you go over $100,000, SSI benefits will stop, but they will start up again if your ABLE account drops back below $100,000 and you won’t have to reapply. For Medi-Cal and CalFresh, the money in your account will not affect your benefits, no matter how much you have.
You can only open an account through a state-designated program or institution. California does not have an ABLE account program yet, however, you can an account in another state’s ABLE program.
You can only open one ABLE account. (You cannot open accounts in more than one state.)
You can be more than 26 years old when you open your account – all that matters is when your disability began. You can only have an account if you have a disability. However, another person, such as a parent or guardian, can help manage the account.
For more information:
- “Building Your Assets and Wealth: The Details” Disability 101 California
- The ABLE National Resource Center (ANRC) – http://www.ablenrc.org/ National website allows you to compare different ABLE programs.
- Cal ABLE – https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/able/index.asp Information on California’s ABLE Program
The Autism Society Inland Empire does not endorse the organizations listed here, they are provided solely as a reference for parents.
Autism Society Options Policy
This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.
All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.
