By David Mervis, Esq., Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) staff attorney
Many public benefits programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and certain Medicaid programs, limit the amount of money a person can save while remaining eligible for benefits. These programs also have rules that may reduce or eliminate benefits when an individual receives money from someone else.
An Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account allows some people with disabilities to save money while maintaining eligibility for benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. An ABLE account also allows family and friends to provide financial support without affecting their loved one’s benefits.
Anyone with a disability or blindness that began before age 46 and is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration may open an ABLE account. Nearly every state in the country has an ABLE program, and most programs allow individuals who live outside of the state to open an account.
After an ABLE account is opened, anyone, including family, friends and the account owner, may contribute to it. Total yearly contributions cannot exceed the limit set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In 2026, the limit is $20,000 for most people, although individuals who are working may qualify for a higher contribution limit.
Individuals with ABLE accounts may save significantly more money than is typically allowed in a regular bank account while maintaining eligibility for public benefits. For SSI, up to $100,000 in an ABLE account does not count toward the resource limit. For other public benefits programs, such as Medicaid, individuals may be able to save even more while remaining eligible. Additionally, money contributed directly to an ABLE account by another person does not count against benefits eligibility.
ABLE accounts can be used to pay for any “qualified disability expense.” Examples of qualified disability expenses include:
- Basic living expenses (e.g., housing, food, transportation and clothing)
- Health and wellness expenses
- Education
- Employment training
- Personal support services
- Assistive technology
Before 2026, ABLE accounts were limited to people whose disability began before age 26. Since the start of 2026, anyone whose disability began before age 46 has been permitted to open an ABLE account.
Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) provides education, training and direct assistance related to ABLE accounts in several ways. Staff members provide formal training on ABLE accounts to Kennedy Krieger Institute staff members and trainees, as well as to members of the broader Maryland disability community. They also offer brief advice and resources to individuals with questions about public benefits. For clients, Project HEAL provides more in-depth support with opening and managing ABLE accounts. Example cases include the following:
- A father who applied for SSI benefits for his son contacted Project HEAL after the application was denied. The denial occurred because the father had saved several thousand dollars in a savings account for his son’s future needs. A Project HEAL staff member explained that if he opened an ABLE account for his son and transferred the money from the savings account into the ABLE account, his son would become eligible for SSI benefits.
- An adult whom Project HEAL is representing in an SSI case shared that she needs financial assistance from her parents to make ends meet while waiting for her application to be approved. Staff members explained that if her parents deposit money into her savings account or give her cash directly, the gift counts as income and may reduce her SSI benefit. However, if she opens an ABLE account and her parents deposit the money directly into that account, the gift will not count as income and will not reduce her SSI benefit once approved.
To learn more about ABLE accounts and compare plans across states, visit the ABLE National Resource Center or ABLE Today websites. Visit the Maryland ABLE website to set up an account.
For more information about and access to resources on intellectual, developmental and other disabilities and related disorders, contact the Resource Finder, a program of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities.