ABLE to Work: How to Save More in Your ABLE Account
- Purple
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
If you have a disability and are working, the ABLE to Work provision lets you save even more money in your ABLE account—without losing benefits like SSI or Medicaid.
In this article, we’ll explain:
What ABLE to Work is
Who qualifies
2025 contribution limits
How to take advantage of it
Why it matters for financial independence
How Purple helps you save smarter
Let’s break it down.
1. What Is ABLE to Work?
ABLE to Work is an expansion of the ABLE Act that lets certain working individuals contribute more to their ABLE account each year—on top of the regular annual limit.
It was created to encourage employment and make it easier for people with disabilities to build savings while staying eligible for government programs.
2. Who Qualifies for ABLE to Work?
To be eligible for the ABLE to Work boost, you must:
Have an ABLE account in your name (not just be a beneficiary of someone else’s account)
Be employed and earning income
Not be contributing to a retirement plan through your employer (like a 401(k), 403(b), or SIMPLE IRA)
If you meet these requirements, you can contribute more than the standard ABLE limit.
3. 2025 Contribution Limits
Here’s how much you can save in 2025:
Standard ABLE contribution limit: $19,000
ABLE to Work additional contribution: Up to $15,060 in most states
Total possible annual contribution: Up to $34,060 if you qualify for both
The extra ABLE to Work contribution is tied to the federal poverty line for a single person. In 2025, that amount is:
$15,060 in the continental U.S.
$17,310 in Hawaii
$18,810 in Alaska
4. How to Make an ABLE to Work Contribution
The process is simple, but you’ll want to track contributions carefully. You (or someone assisting you) will need to:
Confirm that you meet the income and retirement plan requirements
Contribute earned income, not gifts or other deposits
Notify your ABLE program that part of your contribution is from ABLE to Work (some programs ask you to check a box or submit a form)
The amount must come from wages or self-employment—not from family members or other sources.
5. Why It Matters
ABLE to Work lets you go beyond the usual $2,000 SSI resource limit and start building a real financial cushion:
Save for emergencies or future needs
Avoid “spending down” your benefits unnecessarily
Gain more control and peace of mind
Build a pathway to long-term independence
For many working adults with disabilities, it’s one of the few ways to earn money and save money—without losing critical benefits.
6. How Purple Helps You Save Smarter
At Purple, we’re building tools to make saving and managing benefits easier—especially for working adults who use ABLE accounts.
Coming soon, you’ll be able to:
Track your ABLE contributions (including ABLE to Work)
Get alerts when you’re nearing your annual limit
Separate spending from savings with multiple accounts
Store income and benefit records in one place
Get early access to new ABLE tools we’re developing
If you want to be the first to know when our ABLE features launch, join the waitlist today.