Opening an ABLE Account

A mom and her daughter, who has Down Syndrome.

(Image credit: David Walters Photography)

Question: Is there an age limit for opening an ABLE account for a person with a disability? What documentation do you need to provide to show that the person is eligible?

Answer: People of any age who developed a qualifying disability before age 26 can open an ABLE account and contribute up to $16,000 per year (as of 2022). The money can be used tax-free for any expenses that benefit the person with the disability, and up to $100,000 in the account doesn’t count toward the $2,000 asset limit for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Financial Planning for Special-Needs Children

To qualify for an ABLE account, you must meet Social Security’s definition of having “severe functional limitations” with an onset before age 26. IRS regulations don’t require account owners to submit documentation to the plan showing that they are eligible based on the severity and onset of their disability, although some plans have stricter requirements. Even if your plan doesn’t require the documentation, it’s a good idea to keep the records yourself. “We recommend that account owners keep documents that prove they’re qualified in their own personal files in case the IRS or Social Security Administration asks for them,” says Kaellen Hessel of the Oregon ABLE Savings Plan.

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Those who are already receiving benefits under Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance (and who started receiving those benefits before age 26) are automatically eligible to open an ABLE account and don’t need other documentation, says Hessel. People may also qualify if they have a written diagnosis from a doctor certifying that they are blind or disabled and the age of onset was before age 26.

Certifying when the disability began can be a bit tricky. “Oftentimes, a disability may start before the age of 26, but doctors and the patient don’t know what’s causing the symptoms until later,” says Hessel. “When we launched Oregon ABLE, a man with a traumatic brain injury asked us if he qualified. He was in a serious car crash before he was 26, but it wasn’t until after 26 that doctors were finally able to diagnose him. Since he had a disability that whole time and it was clearly tied to the crash, he qualified.”

“When in doubt, we recommend getting a doctor’s note. It can be a surprisingly simple process,” she says.

Similar to 529 college-savings plans, ABLE accounts are administered by the states, but they are generally open to residents of any state (Florida’s plan is limited to its own residents). Twenty-four states now offer ABLE accounts, and several more are expected to introduce plans soon. Several states provide a state income tax deduction to residents contributing to their state’s plan. When choosing a plan, look at possible tax breaks as well as fees, investing options and other details.

For more information about ABLE accounts, updates on states offering the accounts and a tool that compares programs, see the ABLE National Resource Center. Also see How to Open an ABLE Account for a Special-Needs Child for more information about picking a plan.

Estate Planning for Parents of Special-Needs Children

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.