Employment has been rising over the past few years for a growing group of Americans – people with disabilities.
Yet millions of workers are leaving money on the table, experts say, because they don’t know about an important funding source for people with disabilities known as the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, account.
These tax-advantaged accounts can be opened by a disabled person or their authorized representative — for example, a parent, legal guardian, or agent named in your power of attorney. A child or adult with a disability can save up to $100,000 in an ABLE account without losing eligibility for need-based programs, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income.
Contributions from ABLE accounts are tax-free when used for disability-related expenses. That can include housing, education, transportation and assistive technology, among others, according to the IRS.
“Approximately 2% of workers in the United States understand what an ABLE account is, which is such an important vehicle to provide savings without jeopardizing government benefits,” said Voya Financial CEO Heather Lavallee, citing a recent study by the financial company.
More than 1 in 4 adults — more than 70 million — US adults live with a disability, according to 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control.
“When you think about the special needs community, it’s the only small group that anyone can join at any time,” Lavallee said in a recent CNBC interview.
The percentage of Americans with disabilities at work peaked at 42.5% in November, and 41.1% in April, according to the latest survey by the Kessler Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on disability rehabilitation research.
The eligibility age for an ABLE account increases in 2026
Sena Pottackal accepts the award from Disability:IN.
Honor: Disability: IN
Sena Pottackal, a 36-year-old PR consultant with multiple disabilities, including blindness, told CNBC that she didn’t think she qualified for an ABLE account at first.
“I was 27 years old, and I was told that it was a savings account for people 26 years old or younger,” he said.
However, eligibility for an ABLE account is based on the first years of disability, not your current age.
As of Jan. 1, the eligibility age limit increased from 26 to 46.
“If they get their disability at age 46 or younger, they qualify, put this back on my radar,” Pottackal said. “This would be a very important way for me to save for the future and improve financial and economic stability.”
Under the age extension, about 14 million people are now eligible for ABLE accounts, according to data compiled by ISS Market Intelligence researcher Paul Curley. However as of April 30, only 1.7% have opened one, he found.
The ABLE account contribution limit increases in 2026
People with disabilities have the opportunity to accumulate significant savings in these accounts, experts say. The first $100,000 in an ABLE account is generally exempt from the $2,000 resource limit for SSI benefits, unlike funds in a 401(k) or IRA. SSI is a federal program that provides monthly benefits to adults and children who are blind, disabled or age 65 and older, and who have limited income and financial resources.
“If they contribute to a 401(k), they may be risking certain benefits,” Lavallee said. Investing in an ABLE program “can be another great way to be able to drive those savings.”
ABLE accounts are owned by the state, like 529 college savings plans, and you can open an ABLE account online through your home state or another state’s ABLE plan website.
In 2026, the maximum contribution to an ABLE account is $20,000. Donations may qualify for a tax credit of up to $1,050 this year.
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