Episode 46 Block 4 Published
Social Security and ABLE Accounts: The Legal Workaround for SSI Savers
Watch on YouTube ABLE accounts let disabled Americans save tax-free for disability expenses without those savings counting against SSI’s $2,000 asset limit - up to $100,000. This video covers who qualifies (including the 2026 expansion to age 46), how much you can contribute annually, what counts as a qualified expense, how to compare and open a state plan online, and what the Medicaid payback rule means for your estate. The next video covers SSDI appeals. Verify your eligibility at SSA.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
▶ Watch next: SSDI Appeals: Every Stage From Denial to Approval - Social Security https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1H9H-a3t58
📺 Full playlist: Social Security (US - 2026) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIAFxS296491LWfYsLp6anRyo6_DO_pI
Chapters
ABLE accounts let disabled Americans save tax-free for disability-related expenses without counting against SSI asset limits (up to specific thresholds). Created by the ABLE Act of 2014 and expanded by subsequent legislation, they're the single most underused tool in the disability benefits toolkit. Most qualifying recipients have never heard of them.
Key Topics
- Who qualifies for an ABLE account (disability onset before 26, expanding to 46 in 2026)
- Annual contribution limit (2026 figures) and how it ties to gift-tax exclusion
- $100,000 SSI exclusion ceiling (amounts above count)
- Qualified disability expenses (housing, education, transportation, healthcare, assistive tech)
- State-by-state ABLE plan differences (fees, investment options)
- Contribution by family members, friends, and working beneficiaries
- Interaction with Medicaid payback on death