The leading voice for excellence in public finance
The leading voice for excellence in public finance

Advocacy

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) & The ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN)

Empowering people with disabilities and their families to save for the future, while protecting eligibility for public benefits

The Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act) became law on December 19, 2014. The ABLE Act creates a new option for some people with disabilities and their families to save for the future, while protecting eligibility for public benefits.

ABLE plans can change the way individuals with disabilities and their families participate in the community, build financial wellness and plan for the future by empowering them to save and invest for the added expenses that come with having a disability without losing access to federal means-tested benefits.

ABLE accounts foster person-centered independence, build self-reliance, encourage employment and improve quality of life. Contributions to ABLE accounts can come from earnings, family, friends and other sources. Earnings on ABLE accounts are tax-deferred, and withdrawals are tax-free as long as they are used for qualified disability-related expenses.

In 2022, NAST created the ABLE Savings Plans Network to coordinate our efforts to promote increased awareness and use of ABLE accounts as well as to advocate for improvements to the use and administration of ABLE plans. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity leads ASPN as we work to build strategic partnerships with Congress, federal agencies and the disability community to promote the use of ABLE accounts.

special needs girl with two friends, smiling

46 States and Washington D.C.

offer ABLE savings and investment plans
0
States and D.C. have launched ABLE programs
0
ABLE accounts opened nationwide
$ 0
Average savings in ABLE accounts
$ 0 billion
Invested in ABLE accounts nationally

Data current as of June 30, 2023.

Key Legislation

NAST and ASPN thank Congress for passing the ABLE Age Adjustment Act (S. 331 and H.R. 1219) in 2022

The National Association of State Treasurers and it’s affiliated network, the ABLE Savings Plans Network, applaud the passage of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act as part of the Omnibus Spending Bill. Since 2015, NAST and other ABLE advocates have urged for the passage of this legislation with the help of Senator Bob Casey (PA) and Representative Tony Cardenas (CA-29). With 103 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House and 22 cosponsors in the Senate, we thank Sen. Casey and Rep. Cardenas for their hard work shepherding this life changing legislation in the 117th Congress.

“The original ABLE Act was the most significant legislation for people with disabilities since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act nearly thirty years ago,” said Fiona Ma, California State Treasurer, California ABLE Act Board Chair, and ABLE Savings Plan Network Executive Board Member. “Through savings in ABLE accounts, Californians with disabilities have purchased homes, paid for educational expenses, covered out-of-pocket medical costs, and so much more. With the passage of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, its impact will be even greater by including millions of veterans and others who became disabled later in life in the opportunity to achieve financial equity.”

What is next?

NAST and ASPN calls on Congress to make the following policies a part of permanent legislation: ABLE to Work Contributions, Saver’s Credit for ABLE, and 529-to-ABLE rollovers. Currently, these provisions are part of temporary legislation that will sunset on January 1, 2026, removing key tax incentives and creating confusion for ABLE account owners. By making these policies permanent, Congress will continue to incentivize workplace savings and provide flexibility for families whose higher education plans have changed.

How you can help

As the State Treasurer, program administrator, or other interested advocate, NAST encourages you to contact your entire Congressional delegation asking them to support the legislation to remove the sunset of the ABLE provisions listed above. To assist, we are assembling a toolkit of information resources that will be avcailable on this webpage in the near future. 

“Having an ABLE account now means financial security. I just put a down payment on an accessible vehicle with the money I saved in my ABLE account. I don’t know what I would do without ABLE.”

— Wendy Settles, Illinois, Young adult professional with Cerebral Palsy

ABLE Resolutions Adopted by NAST

Supporting Enhancements to the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act
Supporting Enhancements to the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act
October 2, 2023

Resources

Federal Regulation of ABLE Programs
IRS Publication 907: Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities
IRS Notice of Final Regulations for ABLE Plans – October 2020
IRS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:  Contribution Limits Applicable to ABLE Accounts – October 10, 2019
US Department of Housing & Urban Development Guidance on the Treatment of ABLE Accounts in HUD-Assisted Programs – April 26, 2019
Internal Revenue Service Release 2018-139 – Guidance on ABLE Accounts and the Saver’s Tax Credit – June 15, 2018
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Guidance: Implications of the ABLE Act for State Medicaid Programs – September 7, 2017
US Department of Agriculture Guidance: Treatment of ABLE accounts in Determining SNAP Eligibility – April 4, 2016
Guidance Under Section 529A: Qualified ABLE Programs – A Proposed Rule by the Internal Revenue Service – June 6, 2015
Social Security Adminstration Program Operations Manual System (POMS) regarding ABLE Accounts
 
NAST ABLE Committee
NAST Letter to the Congressional Military Family Caucus 7.21.20
ABLE and the Saver’s Credit Press Release 2.26.20
ABLE Committee Leadership
ABLE Committee Report – STATE ABLE PROGRAMS: PROGRESS AND LEGISLATIVE NEEDS – July 1, 2019
ABLE Committee Letter to the IRS regarding adding Social Security Representative Payees (“Representative Payee”) to the list of those who can establish and administer an ABLE account – May 29, 2019
NAST ABLE One Pager
State ABLE Administrator Contact Information March 2, 2020
ABLE Frequently Asked Questions
NAST ABLE Committee Letter to United States Senate – November 18, 2019
 
ABLE In The News

ABLE Accounts For Disabled Have Many Advantages And Should Be Better Known – May 15, 2022

ABLE Accounts Give Disabled More Financial Freedom – April 27, 2022

What is an ABLE account? It’s a savings account for people with disabilities – October 27, 2021

Revisiting the ABLE Act – October 26, 2021

Congress can help Americans living with disabilities by passing the ABLE Age Adjustment Act – April 20, 2021 – OPED by NAST ABLE Committee Chairs

Disabled Americans may want to save their stimulus money in an ABLE account – March 10, 2021

These under-appreciated accounts similar to 529 plans can be useful tax-smart savings tools – October 22, 2020

Rep. McMorris Rodgers on the ABLE Act: ‘It’s Personal’ – October 20, 2020

Saving in Times of Crisis: How People with Disabilities Can Increase Financial Stability – August 19, OPED by NAST ABLE Committee Chair and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma

How to support employees with disabilities during COVID-19 – August 2020

Can a disabled person have savings and qualify for Medicaid? – August 3, 2020

What Is an ABLE Account? – August 1, 2020

Special needs families face increased financial pressure in Covid-19 crisis. This can help – July 31, 2020

Celebrate the ADA’s 30th Anniversary by Passing the ABLE Age Adjustment Act – July 27, 2020

Help more vets, others save for medical expenses – July 21, 2020

The pandemic made everything harder: Financial strategies for people with disabilities and special needs – July 9, 2020

An Introduction to ABLE Accounts – March 23, 2020

ABLE assists disbabled: New state program helps residents without risking federal benefits – March 13, 2020

IAble wants more – Editorial celebrating 3rd Anniversary of IAble – February 27, 2020

Everything You Need to Know About ABLE Accounts – February 19, 2020

Celebrating and expanding upon five years of the ABLE  Act – February 9, 2020

Five Practical Uses for an ABLE Account – January 24, 2020

How to build support system for adult children with disabilities – January 9, 2020

ABLE accounts let the disabled plan, dream and save big—without risking essential federal benefits – January 7, 2020

People with disabilities can now set some financial goals thanks to this game-changer – December 15, 2019

529 ABLE Accounts: Helping End Forced Poverty For Disabled Individuals – November 12, 2019

How to Plan for Retirement and Special-Needs Care – October 19, 2019

Recent Changes to ABLE Accounts and Why Your Client Might Want One – September 23, 2019

Top Ways to Plan for Your Special Needs Child’s Future – August 2019

There’s a game-changing way for people with disabilities to save – August 24, 2019

Treasurer Davis Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Delaware ABLE Plan, Releases Video – June 25, 2019

Expanding the ABLE Act will help those who need it most – March 29, 2019

It’s Disability Employment Awareness Month: ABLE to Work helps Americans with disabilities – October 25, 2018

Sen. Burr and Sen. Casey ABLE Op-Ed – August 11, 2018

ABLE Age Adjustment Act: Estimate of Additional Eligible ABLE Participants