Eligibility

An eligible individual is considered the Account Owner and must be:

  • receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on blindness or disability that began before age 46; or
  • in SSI suspense due solely to excess income or resources but otherwise eligible for SSI based on blindness or disability that began before age 46; or
  • receiving disability insurance benefits (DIB), childhood disability benefits (CDB), or widow’s with disabilities or widower’s benefits (DWB) based on blindness or disability that began before age 46; or
  • the subject of a disability certification.
    • A disability certification, to be signed by the individual or someone else establishing the ABLE account for the individual:
      • Certifies that the individual is blind or has a physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations and that such blindness or disability began before age 46;
      • Includes a certification that the individual has a copy of the diagnosis relating to his or her relevant impairment(s), signed by a physician.
    • Conditions on SSA’s “List of Compassionate Allowances Conditions” are deemed to meet the requirements for filing a disability certification if the condition was present and produced marked and severe functional limitations before the individual attained age 46.

    Eligible individuals do not need to receive public benefits to be eligible.

    Eligible individuals may only have one ABLE account nation-wide.

    For more information, visit SSA ABLE Account Spotlight

    Additional Social Security Administration resources on qualified disabilities: