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This Issue of our AchievABLE Newsletter - Winter Edition: December 2025 contains stories on the following:
Start the New Year Strong by Setting SMART Financial Goals
As we soon welcome a new year, now is the perfect time to reflect and set 2026 resolutions that truly make a difference. One of the most impactful resolutions you can make is to take control of your financial future. Whether you’re saving for education, assistive technology or long-term security, your ABLE account is a powerful tool that can help you achieve those goals.
Start by creating SMART goals which are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound. Instead of saying, “I want to save more,” try: “I will save $50 per month in my ABLE account for the next 12 months to fund my deck repair.” Access this SMART Goal-Setting Worksheet for more details and begin using it today as your roadmap to success.
Next, build a spending plan to track income, expenses and savings. A spending plan helps you prioritize what matters most and ensures your goals stay on track. Access NDI’s spending plan template to get started. This simple step can make a big difference in turning your intentions into action.
Finally, maximize the power of your ABLE account. Contributions grow tax-free, and funds can be used for qualified disability expenses, giving you flexibility and peace of mind. Consider setting up automatic deposits or using windfalls such as tax refunds to boost your savings. Reminder: The annual contribution limit for calendar year 2025 is $19,000 and the ABLE to Work contribution limit is an additional $15,060 if you live in the continental U.S. (more if you live in Alaska or Hawaii). Be sure to deposit your maximum contributions before the end of the calendar year!
2026 is the year to make your financial resolutions stick. With SMART goals, a solid spending plan and maximizing the advantages of your ABLE account, you’re not just planning, you’re building a future of independence and security.
Count Down for the ABLE Age Adjustment Act
On January 1, 2026, ABLE eligibility expands. If someone has a disability that began before age 46, they may be eligible to open an ABLE account in 2026.
Review The ABLE Age Adjustment Act Fact Sheet to learn more about this new opportunity to save for an additional 6 million Americans with disabilities.
Be sure to visit WEBINAR: Millions More Can Start Their ABLE Journey in 2026 – ABLE National Resource Center for the recording, transcripts and slides of our November webinar about the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. Two ABLE account owners shared how ABLE has helped them to save for short-term needs and long-term goals. An individual who will become eligible in 2026 shared steps he has taken to prepare for opening his ABLE account and provided insight about what this new opportunity means to him.
Ambassador Spotlight
Ty’s Journey to Independence
Ty’s story is one of resilience and transformation. Diagnosed early with sensory integration disorder and later anger management disorder, Ty spent much of his childhood in the mental health system, facing numerous challenges including poverty, isolation and educational barriers. He was told he would never amount to anything, but Ty refused to accept that narrative.
Through perseverance and support, Ty graduated high school and his advocacy role as a Young Adult Peer Specialist sparked a lifelong commitment to policy development and disability rights. Ty continued school and earned his bachelor’s degree with assistance from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. He currently works at Atlantis Community Inc., a Center for Independent Living in Colorado, where he empowers others to achieve financial independence.
Ty shares that opening an ABLE account was a turning point for him. He used his savings to purchase his first home, a milestone that provides stability, privacy and space for his pets. Today, he continues to save for home improvements and a newer car, maximizing the benefits of his ABLE account, while planning for the future. As a Certified Benefits Planner, Ty is dedicated to helping others maintain benefits, increase income and leverage tools like ABLE to reach their goals.
Ty’s journey proves that with determination, resources, and the right support, independence is possible. Ty’s message to others is that “You can change the narrative and build the life you want.”
Recent Publications
Watch this 2-minute video to learn how to Empower Your Financial Future with ABLE.
ABLE Toolkit – In January 2026, it is estimated that 2.2 million Veterans with disabilities will be eligible to open an ABLE account. ABLE NRC published an ABLE Veterans Toolkit in November 2025 to help Veterans, their families and supporters turn this opportunity into action.
ABLE by Numbers
As of 9/30/2025, more than 223,174 ABLE accounts have been opened nationwide with $2.87 billion in assets under management. The average ABLE savings balance is just above $12,862. Thank you to the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) and the ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN) for this data.
Top 3 ABLE Questions
- Question: The holidays will be here soon, and I would like to use my ABLE savings to buy a holiday gift for my friend. Is that a Qualified Disability Expense (QDE)?
Answer: ABLE funds may be used for expenses that benefit the ABLE account owner. Gifts for others are not listed by the IRS as a QDE. An ABLE account owner could use funds outside of an ABLE account to buy a gift for others. Learn more about qualified disability expenses on our website.
- Question: I have several ABLE savings goals. I want to buy an accessible home and vehicle. Do you have any advice?
Answer: Yes! ABLE savings can be used for many qualified disability expenses, including large purchases like a home or vehicle. However, always explore programs or supports that can help pay for these expenses to preserve your ABLE savings longer! For the home purchase, call 211 (311 if you live in New York City) and ask about first-time home buyer programs in your community. Savings in a first-time homebuyer program do not count as an asset, and deposits may even be matched 4:1–that’s free money! Learn more in the ABLE NRC Home Ownership Guide. A few other programs or supports that can help include The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and impairment work-related expense (IRWE) incentive offered through the Social Security Administration. You can also check your state’s Alternative Financing Program for accessible vehicle loans which can be used along with SSA work supports or as a standalone financing option. If you are receiving services from Vocational Rehabilitation and have a work goal, ask if they can help pay for vehicle modifications. Using these programs together can make your purchase more affordable and help you preserve more of your ABLE funds for future needs.
- Question: My disability began when I was 35. I think that I will be eligible to open an ABLE account in 2026. Since I don’t receive Social Security benefits, I need a signed physician statement. Can I ask my doctor to sign a statement in December 2025 before the ABLE Age Adjustment Act goes into effect or must the doctor’s signature be dated in 2026?
Answer: A physician can determine now (in 2025) if your disability qualifies to open an ABLE account in January 2026. ABLE NRC has a Sample Disability Certificate that can be used for this purpose. The current certificate is valid, and an updated version will be made available once finalized in 2026.The doctor can sign it in 2025 (and beyond) either manually or electronically. Be sure to keep the signed disability statement for your records.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is Advancing ABLE
Annual Contribution Limit. The annual contribution for ABLE accounts effective 1/1/2026 has increased to $20,000. Some employed account owners may be eligible to contribute more, up to $35,650 in 2026; even more for residents of Alaska and Hawaii. The IRS changed how it determines ABLE annual contribution limits as outlined in this revenue procedure 26 CFR 601.602.
Saver’s Credit Form 8880. The IRS finalized the 2025 Form 8880, the Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, better known as the “Saver’s Credit”. ABLE account owner contributions minus ABLE account disbursements may qualify the taxpayer for this credit depending upon their adjusted gross income and filing status. The maximum credit is $1,000 for single filers and up to $2,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. For 2025 contributions, claiming the credit can reduce your tax liability when Form 8880 is completed with Form 1040.
Rollovers from Trump Accounts to ABLE Accounts: Section 70204 of PL 119-21( introduced new birth-based custodial accounts, known as “Trump Accounts,” which can be established for children under age 18. During the calendar year that the Trump Account beneficiary attains age 17, the Trump Account’s entire account balance may be directly rolled over into the person’s ABLE account. The rollover will not count towards the person’s income and will not count towards the ABLE Annual Contribution Limit for that calendar year.
State Updates
CalABLE. CalABLE has a new feature where you can send a message via LiveChat by clicking on the icon in the upper right corner of the chat window once you are logged into your CalABLE account. Support is available Monday through Friday, 6 AM–5 PM PT. The CalABLE application and portal are now available in 20 languages.
Iowa: Access this 18-minute YouTube video “Mission: Employable – A Special Savings Plan for Iowans” featuring Alicia Callanan, the Iowa Deputy State Treasurer, who highlights Iowa’s ABLE savings plan. They cover various topics and plan features including the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, employer contributions into the ABLE account, investment options, investment fees and success stories.
Maine. News Center Maine featured ABLE Bangor Savings accounts in a segment “Happening Today” that included an informative, two-minute clip celebrating ABLE Savings Day.
New Mexico. New Mexico STABLE program is celebrating a year of record growth and the receipt of the prestigious public service advocacy award from Disability Pride New Mexico.
North Carolina. House Bill 378 signed by the Governor Josh Stein in July 2025, prohibits creditors from taking funds from the ABLE account when they are enforcing a debit collection or judgment against the ABLE account owner. The funds are protected when they are used for qualified disability expenses or withdrawn to pay for them. The funds are exempt from liens, attachment, garnishment, levy, seizure, involuntary sale or assignment or the enforcement of any other judgement or claim to pay any debt or liability of the account owner, beneficiary or a contributor to the account.
PA ABLE. Effective September 1, 2025, PA ABLE has reduced its fees for the sixth time. PA ABLE, the largest member of the National ABLE Alliance (NAA), cut its fees due to the NAA assets surpassing $700 million! PA ABLE is the largest member plan in the NAA with total assets of more than $175 million.