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This Issue of our AchievABLE Newsletter - ABLE in Action Spring 2026 Issue contains stories on the following:
Back to School with ABLE: Invest in Education, Invest in Your Future
Students of all ages are preparing for another year of learning, growth, and new opportunities. Whether you’re purchasing supplies for an elementary school student, supporting a teenager heading to college, or returning to school as an adult learner, an ABLE account can be a valuable tool to help manage education-related expenses.
Many education costs qualify as qualified disability expenses (QDEs), meaning ABLE account funds can be used to pay for them without affecting eligibility for certain public benefits. Educational expenses may include tuition and fees, books, school supplies, computers and assistive technology, tutoring, educational support services, and other costs related to attending school or training programs. Transportation to and from school and supports that help account owners succeed in an educational setting also qualify.
ABLE accounts provide flexibility for students and families planning for both short-term and long-term educational goals. Parents can use ABLE savings to help support a child’s educational needs, while youth and young adults can save for college, vocational training, certification programs, or continuing education opportunities. Adult learners returning to school to advance their careers, learn new skills, or pursue personal goals can also benefit from using ABLE funds to cover eligible expenses.
Education is an investment in independence, employment, and future success. By incorporating an ABLE account into your back-to-school planning, you can save for important expenses while taking advantage of the unique benefits ABLE accounts offer. This school year, make your ABLE account part of your educational success strategy and put your savings to work for your future. Visit the decision guide, Determining Whether Something Is a Qualified Disability Expense (QDE), to learn more about qualified disability expenses.
ABLE Ambassador News
Congratulations to Denise Gehringer who has joined the Board of Directors of the National Down Syndrome Congress. We’re thankful for her advocacy supporting ABLE NRC’s ambassador, Rachel Mast, and others living with Down syndrome. Her leadership will help expand opportunities, amplify important voices, and advance meaningful support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families nationwide.
Resource Spotlight
On July 29, 2026, the ABLE National Resource Center (ABLE NRC) and Justice in Aging presented the webinar, “How ABLE Accounts Work with Supplemental Security Income (SSI).” A recording of the webinar How ABLE accounts work with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available on ABLE NRC’s website. (need to add link when uploaded – prior to publication of AchievABLE). Justice in Aging and the ABLE NRC also co-wrote an accompanying fact sheet, The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Resource Limit and Common Solutions. These resources highlight how outdated asset limits make it difficult for low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities to save for emergencies or future needs without risking loss of critical benefits. An ABLE account can provide a solution since it allows up to $100,000 in ABLE savings to be excluded from SSI resource limits, making it a valuable tool for building financial security without jeopardizing benefits.
Top ABLE Questions
Question: How does the Social Security Administration (SSA) use ABLE account information to prevent Supplement Security Income (SSI) overpayment when an account goes over $100,000?
Answer: SSA receives ABLE account balance information from states, but this information does not automatically change SSI benefits. An SSA technician must review the information first. If the ABLE account balance is over $100,000, the technician will confirm the balance with the SSI recipient (or their representative). Once verified, any amount over $100,000 is treated as a countable resource for SSI along with other non-ABLE resources.
If total countable resources are too high, the technician may suspend SSI payments. In many cases, benefits are suspended (not terminated) so the person can keep Medicaid coverage while they spend down their balance.
There is no automated system for SSI recipients to report their ABLE balance through a my SSA account or another online tool. This means account owners will need to telephone SSA and should be ready to respond quickly if SSA contacts them about their ABLE savings.
SSI recipients can avoid benefit issues by tracking their ABLE account balance regularly, especially as it gets close to $100,000. If the balance is approaching this limit, it may help to:
- Plan purchases ahead of time for qualified disability expenses.
- Keep receipts for all ABLE spending for at least 6 years.
- Respond quickly if SSA contacts you to confirm your balance.
Question: Does a person who could qualify for Disabled Widow benefits need to close out their ABLE account to qualify?
Answer: Disabled Widow Benefits are a type of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). There is no resource limit for SSDI. A person may save and invest up to the ABLE plan’s balance limit without impacting SSDI and disabled widow benefit eligibility. Medicaid and Medicare do not count ABLE funds as a resource. So, a Disabled Widow does not need to close their ABLE account or spend down funds to qualify. Funds may be invested in an ABLE account and when withdrawn to pay for Qualified Disability Expenses, they are not countable income for HUD or SNAP.