September 2025 AchievABLE™ Newsletter

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This Issue of our AchievABLE Newsletter - September 2025 Edition  contains stories on the following:

ABLE Provisions Made Permanent

2025-2026 is a critical period for ABLE accounts. The law now protects and expands key savings opportunities and eligibility will soon reach millions more!

On July 3, 2025, three key provisions in the ENABLE Act set to expire at the end of 2025 were made permanent. One of the three provisions includes the original ABLE To Work Act provision, as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, that allows working individuals with ABLE account to contribute more than the standard annual contribution limit to their accounts. This provision applies when an individual is not participating in an employer-sponsored retirement account, such as a defined contribution plan or a deferred compensation plan.

In 2025, an ABLE account holder not participating in an employer-sponsored plan can contribute an additional amount up to their gross compensation amount for the year, or up to the federal poverty guideline for a household of one ($15,060 per year, with higher limits in Alaska and Hawaii, based on last year’s guidelines), whichever is less. This increases the annual contribution limit for eligible account owners from $19,000 to $34,060.

Public Law 119-21, the Reconciliation Law, also made permanent two other provisions. 1) the ability to rollover funds in a qualified 529 tuition plan into an ABLE account and 2) the ability for individuals who make qualified contributions into their ABLE accounts to utilize the saver’s federal income tax credit.

July 2025 marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – a landmark civil rights law for our community. The ADA has helped make it clear that people with disabilities have the right to the same opportunities as every other American. This includes the right to learn to manage money, keep the benefits that they need and invest in their future!

Spotlight on Advocacy: ABLE Ambassador Honored with National Award

Edward Mitchell, a Black man with a short beard who uses a wheelchair, on a stage holding a plaque

The ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) is proud to celebrate one of its Ambassadors, Edward Mitchell, for a remarkable achievement. At this year’s National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) conference, Edward received the Corey Rowley National Advocacy Award in recognition of his dedication to advancing the rights and independence of people with disabilities.

This award is one of NCIL’s highest honors. It is named after Corey Rowley, a passionate young advocate who championed disability rights until his passing in 2009. The award recognizes individuals who show exceptional leadership, courage and commitment to breaking down barriers and building a more inclusive society.

Edward is not only an ABLE NRC Ambassador but also serves as the State Director for the Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee (SILC). In this role, he provides leadership across the state to strengthen opportunities for people with disabilities to live independently, make their own choices and fully participate in community life. His work at both the state and national level highlights the power of advocacy to create meaningful change.

Since becoming an ABLE NRC ambassador in 2018, Edward has shared his knowledge and personal journey to educate others about the advantages of ABLE accounts. By combining financial empowerment with disability advocacy, Edward demonstrates how change happens when lived experience meets leadership.

Recent Publications

Using administrative and survey data from Illinois, the Center for Financial Security at University of Wisconsin-Madison published research (Briscese, Levere, and Pollack, Improving Financial Security for People with Disabilities: The Promise of ABLE Accounts, 2024) that explored barriers to the participation in ABLE accounts. One of the barriers identified was that the enrollment process seems too complicated.

To reduce this specific barrier, ABLE NRC hosted two national webinars. We were joined by two ABLE program managers, Ascensus and Vestwell State Savings, to outline the enrollment steps for both individuals/families and for providers who are opening and managing multiple ABLE accounts. If you missed either of these events, you could access the recordings and download the transcripts and slides. Click now to learn how easy and quick it can be to open an ABLE account today.

6.11.25 WEBINAR: Click. Apply. Save. A Step-by-Step Guide to ABLE Enrollment

7.23.25 WEBINAR: ABLE Enrollment for the Service Provider: Steps, Tools and Support

We encourage partners to visit ABLE Age Adjustment Act Social Media Toolkit – ABLE National Resource Center for ready-to-use content to amplify awareness of this upcoming milestone. 

Download the ABLE Age Adjustment Act Social Media Toolkit and social media graphics:

Upcoming Webinar – Millions More Can Start Their ABLE Journey in 2026

Are you—or someone you know—among the millions of newly eligible people who can open an ABLE account in 2026? Join us on Tuesday, November 4, from 2-3 pm ET for a webinar that will explain the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. We will describe the expansion of ABLE eligibility taking effect in January 2026 to those whose disability began before age 46 (up from age 26). This change will increase ABLE access for individuals with a variety of disabilities, including Veterans with disabilities and others whose disability began later in life.

The webinar, facilitated by ABLE NRC’s Director, Jody Ellis, will feature an engaging conversation with two current ABLE account owners and an individual who will become eligible in 2026. The account owners will share how ABLE has helped them to save for both short-term needs and long-term goals, while the newly eligible panelist will share the steps he has taken to prepare for opening his first ABLE account.

Panelists:

Teresa Price, Parent of an ABLE account owner

Ty Smith, ABLE account owner

Mark Raymond, Jr., National Outreach Lead, ABLE Today

Don’t miss this chance to learn how you can build financial security with an ABLE account in 2026 and beyond! Register now!

ASL interpretation and captioning will be provided. To request an accommodation, please email Cheyenne Rivers at  crivers@ndi-inc.org.

ABLE by Numbers

As of June 2025, 214,000 ABLE accounts (up from 204,133 accounts in prior quarter) have been opened nationwide with $2.68 billion in assets under management. The average ABLE savings balance is just above $12,500. Thank you to the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) and the ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN) for this data.

Top 3 ABLE Questions

  1. Question: Is there a fee for organizations to open and manage multiple ABLE accounts for people with disabilities that they serve?

Answer: No, there are no extra fees for entities who open multiple ABLE accounts. The same annual maintenance, debit card and check fees apply, as listed within the ABLE NRC comparison tools.

  1. Question: What happens when an SSI beneficiary’s ABLE account balance is more than $100,000 due to ABLE investment growth?

Answer: The first $100,000 saved in the ABLE account is not counted in determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). ABLE funds over $100,000 are treated as a resource (along with any other non-ABLE funds you have). The resource limit for funds not in an ABLE account is $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. If you exceed the $100,000 limit in your ABLE account and this causes your total countable resources to go over the SSI limit, the SSI payment stops until you are under the limit; there is no time limit to resume payments so long as you are eligible. If non-ABLE resources alone cause you to exceed the resource limit, you are not eligible for SSI for the month or months that you have resources over the limit. If this lasts for 12 months in a row, SSI eligibility ends and you would have to reapply to get benefits again.

To avoid payment suspension, an ABLE account owner who receives SSI benefits could make plans to spend the extra funds on Qualified Disability Expenses and ensure that the ABLE account balance is always less than $100,000. Note that ABLE account owners who do not receive SSI benefits can save up to the state ABLE plan’s balance limits (ranging from $235,000 to $596,000 in 2025 depending upon the plan).

  1. Question: We were always told that our child would need someone to manage their money and benefits. We are named as our child’s Representative Payee with SSA. Since opening the ABLE account, we believe that our adult child understands money and the benefits they receive. How can we change the Representative Payee status?

Answer: You can contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to request a change in Representative Payee status. SSA does not have a fixed checklist to determine whether someone can direct or manage their own benefits—instead, they look at each situation individually. They may ask your adult child questions to assess their understanding of their benefits and how they use them to meet daily needs. They may also ask for input from the treating physician. If your adult child is non-verbal, SSA can consider whether they can manage their own money with or without support.

ABLE NRC provides tools and financial education resources that can help ABLE account owners build their money management stills. These resources can support someone in showing they are able to budget, set financial goals and use ABLE funds appropriately on qualified disability expenses. This kind of demonstrated ability can help show SSA that a change in payee status may be appropriate.

Advancing ABLE

  • Sharon Epperson joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to talk about ABLE accounts in this ABLE Accounts Expanding: Here’s What to Know short video. She explains ABLE and the upcoming expansion of eligibility. A note of clarification from this segment: although eight million individuals are currently eligible to have an ABLE account, 214,000 people have opened an ABLE account (as of June 30, 2025).
  • The Connecticut Insider shared the conclusion of the 2020 National Disability Institute report “The Extra Costs of Living with a Disability in the U.S.” and recommended the ABLE account as a savings and investment vehicle that can help!
  • We are watching legislation regarding the ABLE Employment Flexibility Act. R. 4644 was reintroduced in the 119th Congress by Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01, and its counterpart bill, introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and co-sponsors, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jerry Moran (R-KS). This legislation offers more flexibility for working ABLE account owners. Employers could make contributions directly to an ABLE account on behalf of an eligible employee instead of contributing to a traditional retirement plan. The contributions would not jeopardize their eligibility for essential federal benefits. These parallel bills underscore a unified bipartisan approach to supporting workers with disabilities, aiming to remove financial barriers and promote greater inclusion in the workforce.

NOTE: The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) reports in Employer Assistance with ABLE Accounts (August 2025) that most employers do not currently offer assistance with ABLE accounts, though many are interested in learning more. According to a recent survey, 20% of employers were unaware of ABLE accounts, and 73% do not provide any assistance to employees regarding these accounts. However, 2% of employers offer a matching contribution, and 5% facilitate payroll deductions or direct deposit to ABLE accounts. The proposed legislation above aims to allow pre-tax employer contributions to ABLE accounts, potentially enabling eligible employees to contribute to an ABLE account instead of a retirement account.

State and Territory ABLE Updates

Florida’s ABLE United announced a milestone that 14,000 account holders in Florida have saved a combined total of more than $130 million! “Floridians are embracing ABLE accounts as a game changing disability financial planning tool,” said John Finch, Director of ABLE United.

Guam has opened an ABLE plan for residents. Please inform your family and friends who live in Guam of this savings opportunity! To learn more about their program, check out the information flyer and review Chapter 53 of their statutes which provides details of the Guam ABLE program in lieu of a disclosure statement.

Iowa. As of May 19, 2025, the minimum contribution amount to open an Iowa’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (IAble Account) has been reduced to one dollar. Previously, it took a minimum of $25 dollars for eligible Iowans to open an account.

Ohio passed HB 96 which makes changes to STABLE accounts to encourage more Ohioans to take advantage of the Program’s benefits. The new law provisions eliminate account fees and protect information and assets, providing a sense of safety and security to STABLE account owners and their families. It also exempts funds in an ABLE account from collection under the Ohio Medicaid Estate Recovery Program to the extent permitted under federal law.