Opening an account

Opening an account is simple, and it can be done entirely online or, if you prefer, by filling out a paper Enrollment Form and mailing it to the Plan. The individual with disabilities is the account owner and the account owner owns the assets in the account.

There are some circumstances in which the account owner may need others to open and maintain the account on their behalf.

  • If the account owner is a minor, a parent or guardian can open your account online or by completing an Enrollment Form.

  • If the account owner has a legally authorized representative (guardian, conservator or legal power of attorney) that has financial responsibility for the account owner, that individual will need to complete a paper enrollment form and send in evidence of their responsibility.

When an account is opened, you or your legally authorized representative will be able to check a box indicating your disability and self-certify you are eligible to open an account. Additionally, you agree to notify the Plan if you no longer have an eligible disability.

Information needed to open an account

To open an account, the account owner or as applicable, the parent or guardian or legal representative, will need to provide the information listed below:

  1. Eligible individual’s legal name, date of birth, social security number, citizenship, disability and eligibility attestations, residential address, and mailing address.
    • As applicable the parent or legal guardian or representation’s name, driver’s license number, permanent and mailing addresses, telephone, email.
  2. Investment option selections: bank checking, bank savings, target-risk investment options. *link to options tab or investments page.
  3. Contribution method: check, automatic payment, payroll direct deposit, electronic fund transfer, or rollover from another qualified program or fund.

Optional information to provide when opening a new Enable account:

Successor Account Owner (SAO)’s legal name and date of birth.

As the Account Owner, you may designate a SAO to take control of the account in the event of your death. The person you designate as SAO must be an Eligible Individual and at least 18 years old. The SAO designation must be submitted and processed while the Account Owner is living. An account transfer to an SAO is not treated as a distribution if the new Account owner is an Eligible Individual and a Member of the Family of the Account Owner. If the new Account Owner is not an Eligible Individual and a Member of the Family of the Account Owner, the transfer is treated as a Non-Qualified Withdrawal A Death Certificate for the Account Owner and other documentation will be required before the account is transferred to the SAO.

$5k or less Inheritor’s legal name and date of birth.

In the event an Account has designated both a SAO and a $5k or less Inheritor, the SAO designation will take precedence. As the Account Owner, you may designate a $5k or less Inheritor to receive the assets in your account in the event of your death. Account assets must be $5,000 or less at the time of the Account Owner’s death. The person you designate as the $5k or less Inheritor must be at least 18 years old. A personal representative of the Account Owner’s estate can make the $5k or less Inheritor designation (if no SAO or $5k or less Inheritor is on file). The $5k or less Inheritor distribution will be considered a Non-Qualified Withdrawal. A Form 1099-QA will be issued to the Account Owner. A Death Certificate for the Account Owner and other documentation will be required before the distribution is made to the $5k or less Inheritor.

Account restrictions

  • With the exception of residents of the State of Nebraska, if, while the Enable account was open, an account owner receives Medicaid, his or her state that provided Medicaid services may seek to receive the balance in the account upon death. 

    For residents of the State of Nebraska, the State of Nebraska will not file a claim nor seek recovery of any amount remaining in the account for medical assistance received by the account owner, a spouse or dependent under the medical assistance program pursuant to the Medical Assistance Act, after the Enable account was established.  

    For those who did not receive Medicaid benefits, or for account owners who were residents of the State of Nebraska and received Medicaid benefits, any funds remaining in the account will be available to the estate, can be transferred to another account within the Enable Program, or can be rolled over to another qualified ABLE program. 

  • If the account owner is no longer an Eligible Individual, the account can remain open subject to certain restrictions.