Am I ABLE-eligible?

Yes: You are eligible. Keep your disability award letter in your records as proof of your eligibility.

No: Continue to Question #3 below.

Yes: You are eligible. Ask your doctor for a signed physician’s statement. ABLE NRC has prepared a disability certification that can use for this purpose. Maintain the signed disability certification in your records as proof of your eligibility.  

Unsure: If you haven’t received SSI or SSDI, a physician will need to sign that you have a qualified disability. Below is some information that may help evaluate your disability.  

No: Not all people with disabilities are eligible to have an ABLE account.  It doesn’t appear that your disability meets the “severity” criteria to have an ABLE account.  

Marked and severe means that the limitations are more than mild or moderate. The impairment significantly interferes with daily life and is expected to last at least 12 months. A person does not have to be unable to work, attend school, or live independently to meet this standard. Their ability to perform one or more major life activities is substantially limited compared with most people of the same age. They may still be able to perform the activity, but only with considerable difficulty, extra time, assistance, accommodations, medications, or adaptive equipment.

Marked and severe functional limitations may affect activities such as the ability to walk, stand, sit, lift, use hands, see, speak, swallow, hear, breathe, remember, focus, complete tasks, handle stress, or manage daily activities. Examples of Marked and Severe Functional Limitations:

• Has substantial difficulty walking, standing, lifting, or using hands throughout the day.
• Cannot consistently maintain concentration, remember instructions, or complete tasks without assistance.
• Experiences symptoms that regularly interfere with communication, social interaction, or managing daily responsibilities.
• Has recurring episodes where symptoms significantly disrupt normal functioning even if periods of improvement occur.

Progressive or Changing Conditions Many disabilities change over time, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, muscular dystrophy, progressive autoimmune disorders, mental disorders, and other chronic conditions. A person may still qualify even if symptoms improve, if the disability still causes marked and severe functional limitations and meets the time requirement. The key question is whether the condition continues to limit daily functioning. Consider:

• Is my condition causing serious difficulties in my daily life?
• Are these difficulties expected to last at least 12 months?
• Are these limitations documented by my healthcare provider?
• Over time, did my condition improve for a while with treatment but then the medicine stopped working?
• Would the condition significantly worsen without ongoing medical treatment?

Important Points

• A person does not need to be completely unable to perform an activity for a limitation to be marked or severe.
• A person may still work, attend school, live independently, drive, or care for a family and still have marked and severe functional limitations.
• The focus is, how much extra effort, assistance, accommodation, or symptom management is required.
• The determination is based on the combined effect of all impairments and symptoms.
• Temporary improvement with medication or treatment does not automatically mean the limitations are no longer marked or severe.
• Employment status and ability to work have no impact on whether someone is ABLE eligible.

Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Healthcare Provider

• Does my medical condition significantly limit my daily activities?
• Have these limitations lasted, or are they expected to last, at least 12 months?
• Is my impairment or condition well controlled by medication or treatment, or do I continue to have significant limitations despite treatment? If treatment allows you to function with few or no limitations, you may not meet the disability standard. If you continue to experience significant limitations despite appropriate treatment, you may still meet the medical criteria for an ABLE account.
• Do I need extra time, assistance, accommodations, or adaptive equipment to complete everyday tasks?
• Does pain, fatigue, weakness, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, or other symptoms interfere with my daily functioning?
• Are these limitations documented in my medical records?
• Would my healthcare provider describe my limitations as serious and long-term?

Key Takeaway ABLE eligibility is based on marked and severe functional limitations—not just a diagnosis. If your disability began before age 46 and your condition has a significant, long-term impact on your daily functioning, you may be eligible for an ABLE account. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine whether you meet the disability certification requirements. Resources Social Security Administration – Blue Book (Disability Listings) - https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm Social Security Program Operations Manual (POMS): Marked and Extreme Limitations - https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0425225020 Federal ABLE Regulations (26 CFR § 1.529A-2) - History of the ABLE Act Continue No: Not all people with disabilities are eligible to have an ABLE account. It doesn’t appear that your disability meets the “severity” criteria to have an ABLE account.

Yes: You are eligible. Ask your doctor to sign a disability certification indicating that you have a qualifying disability that began before age 46. Maintain the signed disability certification in your records as proof of your eligibility.

No: It appears your disability does not meet the level of “severity” criteria to have an ABLE account.