Higher eligibility age limit takes effect in 2026
Since Congress passed the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act in 2014, the ABLE community has worked tirelessly to pass legislation to raise the eligibility age for owning an ABLE Account from disability onset before age 26 to before age 46.
Supported by legislative champions in Congress, disability advocates, and ABLE programs across the country, the ABLE Age Adjustment Act made it across the finish line on December 29, 2023, when President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 [H.R. 2617], which included the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.
The ABLE Age Adjustment Act ensures greater financial security for millions more Americans with disabilities. By increasing the age of eligibility, it is estimated that nearly 6 million more individuals with disabilities, including nearly 1 million veterans, will become eligible to open an ABLE Account. In Illinois, an estimated 250,000 more people would become eligible to open an ABLE disability savings account.
The new age limit goes into effect starting in 2026. While it may seem a far way off, knowing that there is a start date is a huge step forward for ABLE programs and the millions of Americans with disabilities who can benefit from them.
Read Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Chicago Sun-Times op-ed in support of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.
To see if you qualify to own an IL ABLE Account, take the Eligibility Quiz.
Download the IL ABLE PDF to understand risks and returns when comparing investment choices for your IL ABLE disability savings Account. Download and print it here: What Type of Investor Are You?
Learn More About IL ABLE
Explore how an IL ABLE disability savings account can help you save for qualified disability-related expenses.
- Visit the IL ABLE website
- Review the Plan Disclosure Booklet
- Explore IL ABLE Investment Options
- Open an IL ABLE Account online
For assistance, call 888-609-8683 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm CT, or email il.clientservice@savewithable.com. Support is available in multiple languages and for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing.