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 increase the age of eligibility criteria to own 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 with disabilities, will become eligible to own an ABLE account. In Illinois, it is estimated an additional 250,000 would become eligible to own an ABLE account.
The new age limit goes into effect starting 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.
For more information about IL ABLE visit illinoisable.com and read the Plan Disclosure Booklet.
To see if you qualify to own an IL ABLE Account, take the Eligibility Quiz.