by Shelly DeButts from UCP:
Guest blogger Melissa theSeed is a mother, wife, advocate & blogger with two children with medical needs. She advocates for social and civil justice for people with disabilities through her blog and online communities. She is co-founder of a NY-based nonprofit called “Forward RISE” that is committed to bettering communities and improving disability awareness through education and social experiences.
You can contact her via email at info@forwardrise.org or call Forward RISE at 631-291-9328. Check out her blog at theseed9811.blogspot.com or her website at Forwardrise.org. And, she is on Facebook. Feel free to contact her with any comments or questions.
The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) was finally signed into law by the President on December 19, 2014. It is now up to each State to implement the new law which would allow for tax-free savings accounts to be built for a population that has historically been forced to live in poverty. Up until now, in order to be eligible for SSI and Medicaid, a person could not have more than $2,000 in cash and property ($3,000 for couples) or make more than $700 monthly (!) in order to be eligible for Medicaid or SSI.
This means they can’t save money for things that Medicaid and SSI don’t cover like education, housing, a job coach or transportation. While the rest of society is encouraged to save for emergencies, unforeseen expenses and rainy days, people with disabilities – who have naturally higher expenses and higher medical needs – were forced to scrape pennies and do without due to archaic laws and discriminatory notions held by society in general.
What Is the ABLE Act?
Once enacted by the States, this bi-partisan piece of legislation will give people with disabilities and their families freedoms and security never before experienced. It amends the IRS code of 1986 to allow savings accounts to be set up for individuals with disabilities much like the college tuition accounts known as “529 accounts” that have been around since 1996. The Treasury Department is currently writing all of the regulations. There will then be a period of time where public comments on the proposed rules will be allowed. Before the end of 2015, every State is expected to establish and operate an ABLE program.
In a nutshell, once enacted by a State, an ABLE savings account can be opened up by an individual with a disability or by someone else on their behalf. Up to $14,000 may be deposited yearly untaxed, with that amount to be increased as inflation rises. If an account surpasses $100,000, the owner of the account will no longer be eligible for SSI but would not be in danger of losing Medicaid. When a person dies, Medicaid will be reimbursed first from the account before it is dispersed to the person’s estate.
Individuals with a disability wanting to establish an ABLE account must have acquired their disability before turning 26. If an individual is over the age of 26 but their disability onset was prior to turning 26, they will be still be able to establish an ABLE account. Individuals who meet this requirement and receive SSI or SSDI are automatically eligible to establish an account. Individuals who do not receive these services may still be eligible if they meet SSI criteria regarding who is eligible. The Treasury Department will further explain standards of proof in the regulations they are currently completing.Guest blogger Melissa theSeed is a mother, wife, advocate & blogger with two children with medical needs. She advocates for social and civil justice for people with disabilities through her blog and online communities. She is co-founder of a NY-based nonprofit called “Forward RISE” that is committed to bettering communities and improving disability awareness through education and social experiences.
You can contact her via email at info@forwardrise.org or call Forward RISE at 631-291-9328. Check out her blog at theseed9811.blogspot.com or her website at Forwardrise.org. And, she is on Facebook. Feel free to contact her with any comments or questions.
The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) was finally signed into law by the President on December 19, 2014. It is now up to each State to implement the new law which would allow for tax-free savings accounts to be built for a population that has historically been forced to live in poverty. Up until now, in order to be eligible for SSI and Medicaid, a person could not have more than $2,000 in cash and property ($3,000 for couples) or make more than $700 monthly (!) in order to be eligible for Medicaid or SSI.
This means they can’t save money for things that Medicaid and SSI don’t cover like education, housing, a job coach or transportation. While the rest of society is encouraged to save for emergencies, unforeseen expenses and rainy days, people with disabilities – who have naturally higher expenses and higher medical needs – were forced to scrape pennies and do without due to archaic laws and discriminatory notions held by society in general.
What Is the ABLE Act?
Once enacted by the States, this bi-partisan piece of legislation will give people with disabilities and their families freedoms and security never before experienced. It amends the IRS code of 1986 to allow savings accounts to be set up for individuals with disabilities much like the college tuition accounts known as “529 accounts” that have been around since 1996. The Treasury Department is currently writing all of the regulations. There will then be a period of time where public comments on the proposed rules will be allowed. Before the end of 2015, every State is expected to establish and operate an ABLE program.
- Allows savings accounts to be set up for individuals with disabilities
- Recipients do not have to count funds as income
- Recipients do not have to pay taxes on funds if they are used for disability-related expenses
In a nutshell, once enacted by a State, an ABLE savings account can be opened up by an individual with a disability or by someone else on their behalf. Up to $14,000 may be deposited yearly untaxed, with that amount to be increased as inflation rises. If an account surpasses $100,000, the owner of the account will no longer be eligible for SSI but would not be in danger of losing Medicaid. When a person dies, Medicaid will be reimbursed first from the account before it is dispersed to the person’s estate.
- Can be opened up by an individual with a disability or by someone else on their behalf
- Up to $14,000 may be deposited yearly
- Up to $100,000 can be accrued without affecting SSI
- Onset of disability must have occurred prior to turning 26 years of age
- Must meet SSI eligibility criteria
While the details are still being finalized, it is anticipated that the funds will be allowed to cover any disability-related expenses, including:
- Education
- Housing
- Transportation
- Employment training and support
- Assistive technology and personal support services
- Health, prevention and wellness
- Financial management and administrative services
- Legal fees
- Funeral and burial expenses
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