<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Last week I attended a session on ABLE accounts put on by an organization of state treasurers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With ABLE you can have $100,000 in a dedicated ABLE account to be used for disability related expenses with out affecting any federal program based on need including SSI or Medicaid. The definition of disability related expenses is very broad and includes things such as rent, utilities and food. It likely usually doesn’t cover things such as trips to Europe for vacation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can contribute up to $17,000 annually to the account and if you are working you may be able to contribute even more.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To be eligible currently your disability must be documented prior to age 26.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As of January 1,2026 the eligibility age will change to age 46.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For much more including the full seminar go to <a href="http://www.ABLEToday.org/SSA">www.ABLEToday.org/SSA</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The seminar lasted about an hour and is well worth it if you have any interest in the program. There was a question and answer period after the seminar but I do not if that is included in the recording.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many folks have used their ABLE accounts, for example, to save up for a down payment on a home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hope this is helpful. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gene Coulter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>