ABLE accounts are one of the most valuable financial tools available to people with disabilities — but many people who qualify don't even know they exist. If you're receiving SSI or SSDI and worried about the resource limit, an ABLE account could let you save thousands of dollars without putting your benefits at risk. The first step is understanding whether you're eligible.
In this article, we'll cover:
- What an ABLE account is and why it matters
- The eligibility requirements for opening an ABLE account
- Recent changes that expanded who qualifies
- How ABLE accounts work with SSI and Medicaid
- Contribution limits and account rules for 2026
- How to open an ABLE account, including which states offer programs
What Is an ABLE Account?
ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience. Created by the ABLE Act of 2014, these accounts allow people with disabilities to save and invest money without losing eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, and other means-tested benefits.
Think of it this way: normally, if you're on SSI and your bank account goes above $2,000, you risk losing your benefits. An ABLE account gives you a separate place to save where the money doesn't count against that limit — up to $100,000 without affecting SSI. The funds grow tax-free and can be used for a wide range of disability-related expenses.
For people who've spent years carefully watching every dollar to stay under the resource limit, an ABLE account can be genuinely life-changing.
Who Is Eligible for an ABLE Account?
To qualify for an ABLE account, you must meet one core requirement: you must have a qualifying disability with an onset before age 26.
This means your blindness or disability must have begun before your 26th birthday. You do not need to have been diagnosed before age 26 — just that the condition itself started before then.
You meet the eligibility criteria automatically if you are currently receiving SSI and your disability began before age 26, or if you are receiving SSDI based on a disability that began before age 26. If you're not receiving SSI or SSDI but have a disability that began before age 26, you can still qualify by providing a disability certification signed by a licensed physician. This certification must confirm that you have a significant functional limitation that meets Social Security's criteria.
There's no maximum age to open or hold an ABLE account. Whether you're 20 or 60, as long as your disability onset was before age 26, you're eligible.
Recent Expansions: The ABLE Age Adjustment Act
One of the most significant recent developments for ABLE accounts is the push to raise the age-of-onset requirement. Legislation has been introduced to increase the threshold from age 26 to age 46, which would dramatically expand the number of people who qualify.
As of 2026, the expanded age threshold is set to take effect, potentially opening ABLE accounts to millions more Americans with disabilities. If your disability began between ages 26 and 46 and this expansion is in effect, you may now be eligible. Check with your state's ABLE program or the ABLE National Resource Center for the most current information on implementation.
This expansion matters enormously because many common disabling conditions — including multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries, and certain mental health conditions — often have onset in a person's 30s or 40s. The original age 26 cutoff excluded these individuals from one of the best savings tools available.
How ABLE Accounts Work with SSI and Medicaid
For SSI recipients, the interaction with ABLE accounts is straightforward but important to understand. The first $100,000 in your ABLE account is not counted as a resource for SSI purposes. If your ABLE account balance exceeds $100,000, your SSI payments are suspended (not terminated) until the balance comes back down — but your Medicaid coverage continues regardless.
For Medicaid, ABLE accounts have no impact on eligibility, no matter the balance. This is a critical protection, since Medicaid provides health coverage that many people with disabilities depend on.
ABLE accounts also don't affect SSDI eligibility, since SSDI doesn't have a resource limit. But SSDI recipients who also receive SSI or Medicaid will benefit from the resource exclusion.
2026 Contribution Limits and Rules
Here are the key numbers for ABLE accounts in 2026. The annual contribution limit is $20,000, which is the total amount that can be contributed from all sources in a calendar year. If you're employed, you may be able to contribute an additional amount — up to approximately $15,650 — through the ABLE to Work provision, which allows working account holders to save more from their earned income.
The account balance can grow well beyond the annual contribution limit through investment earnings. Most ABLE programs offer a range of investment options, from conservative savings accounts to more aggressive growth portfolios.
Qualified disability expenses that you can pay for with ABLE funds include housing (rent, mortgage, utilities), transportation, education and training, health care and wellness, assistive technology, employment training and support, legal fees, and basic living expenses. The definition of qualified expenses is intentionally broad, covering most costs related to maintaining health, independence, and quality of life.
How to Open an ABLE Account
You don't have to open an ABLE account in the state where you live. Most state programs accept out-of-state residents, which means you can shop around for the program that offers the best investment options, lowest fees, and features that matter to you.
However, this landscape is shifting. The National ABLE Alliance, which administered programs for 18 states, recently shut down, leaving those states scrambling to transition to new administrators. If you live in one of the affected states, your options may have changed recently — check with your state treasurer's office or disability services agency for the latest information.
To open an account, you'll typically need to provide proof of identity, documentation of your qualifying disability (SSI/SSDI award letter or physician certification), your Social Security number, and a funding source for your initial deposit.
Many programs allow you to open an account online in about 15 minutes. Some states have minimum opening deposits as low as $25.
An ABLE account is one of the best ways to save money without risking your disability benefits. Purple helps SSI and SSDI recipients understand their financial picture and stay compliant with benefit rules — so you can take full advantage of tools like ABLE accounts.