What is ABLE to Work?
The ABLE to Work Act allows Beneficiaries who are employed to contribute an amount equal to their current year gross income up to $14,580 each year to their ABLE account in addition to the annual standard contribution limit.
You can make an ABLE to Work contribution online or by using the Contribution Form.
Keep in mind that if the Beneficiary or their employer is contributing to a defined contribution plan (such as a 401(k)), annuity plan (403(b)), or deferred compensation plan (457(b)) this calendar year, the Beneficiary is not eligible to make ABLE to Work contributions.
Here is a link to the rules and guidelines you should know about.
Am I eligible for an ABLE United account?
You can check eligibility by using our simple Eligibility Wizard.
What type of disabilities qualify for an ABLE account?
Any disability that qualifies for SSI or SSDI or blindness that developed before the age of 26 is eligible for an ABLE account.
The Internal Revenue Service categorizes eligible disabilities as follows:
- Developmental Disorders: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Developmental delays and learning disabilities
- Intellectual Disability: May be reported as mild, moderate, or severe intellectual disability
- Psychiatric Disorders: Schizophrenia, Major depressive disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anorexia Nervosa, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), Bipolar Disorder
- Nervous Disorders: Blindness, Deafness, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, Juvenile-onset Huntington’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Severe sensorineural hearing loss, Congenital cataracts
- Congenital Anomalies: Chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome; Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Spinal muscular atrophy, Fragile X Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome
- Respiratory Disorders: Cystic Fibrosis
- Other: Tetralogy of Fallot, Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, End-stage liver disease, Juvenile-onset rheumatoid arthritis, Sickle cell disease, Hemophilia, and any other disability not listed
Those who don’t receive social security benefits are still eligible if they can get a signed Diagnosis Form from a licensed physician.
Does my disability meet the eligibility requirements for an ABLE United account?
An individual meets the disability and severity criteria to open an ABLE account if at least one of the following is true:
- The individual is entitled to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
- The individual has a condition on the List of Compassionate Allowances Conditions maintained by the Social Security Administration.
- The individual has a diagnosis from a physician showing that they have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitation(s), and which can be expected to result in death, or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.
Those who don’t receive Social Security benefits are still eligible if they can get a signed Diagnosis Form from a licensed physician.
Do I have to live in Florida to have an ABLE United account?
The Beneficiary has to be a Florida resident at the time of application to be eligible for an account. If the Beneficiary moves out of the state, they can continue to utilize the ABLE United account!
We encourage those who move out of state to learn more about that state’s ABLE plan, as there might be state-specific benefits. To learn more about other ABLE programs, visit the ABLE National Resource Center.
Can I close and transfer my ABLE United account to a different ABLE account?
Yes, but you can only make one rollover every 12 months. You should use the other ABLE plan’s rollover form to start the process.
Who owns the ABLE United account?
The account and the funds in it are owned by the Beneficiary, regardless of whether they opened the account or if it is managed by an Authorized Legal Representative.
Can I transfer an existing ABLE account into my ABLE United account?
Yes, this would be considered a rollover. You can only make one rollover every 12 months. Use the ABLE to ABLE Rollover Form to get started. There are also rollover options for eligible family members if the rollover happens before the death of the original Beneficiary who opened the account.
Can there be more than one Authorized Legal Representative (ALR) on an ABLE United account?
There can only be one ALR per account, but you may change an ALR by submitting a request. You may request a Change of Authorized Legal Representative Form by contacting customer service Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm ET at 1-888-524-2253, or Florida Relay Service dial 711.
Can I still work and have an ABLE United account?
Yes. Contributions into an ABLE United account from wages still count as earned income, but do not count as an asset for federally means-tested programs such as Medicaid. For SSI, the first $100,000 does not count as an asset.
Beneficiaries who work can contribute more than $18,000 per year. To learn more visit ABLE to Work.
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