What Families of Students with IEPs Should Know About IL ABLE
A new school year is an important time for families of students with disabilities to think about education, transition planning, and future financial needs. An IL ABLE disability savings account can help eligible students save for education, assistive technology, health care, transportation and other qualified disability expenses.
Here are three ways parents, guardians and educators can include IL ABLE in a student’s financial and transition planning.
1. Ask About IL ABLE at the Student’s IEP or 504 Meeting
Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Illinois school districts must provide information about IL ABLE to the parent or guardian of a student during the student’s annual Individualized Education Program, or IEP, review meeting.
Districts must also provide IL ABLE information to families of students with Section 504 plans and post the information on the school district’s website.
Families and special education professionals can use these materials to discuss how an ABLE account may support the student’s education, transition goals, and future independence.
- Download the IL ABLE brochure for students with IEPs in English (PDF)
- Descargue el folleto de IL ABLE para estudiantes con IEP en español (PDF)
2. Start Saving for Disability-Related Expenses
Families do not have to wait until a student reaches adulthood to begin planning. An IL ABLE Account can be opened for an eligible child, and family members, friends, and others may contribute to the account.
Money in the account can be used for qualified disability expenses during the student’s school years and throughout adulthood. These expenses may include:
- Education and job training
- Assistive technology and personal support services
- Health care and therapy
- Transportation
- Housing
- Other expenses that support the student’s health, independence or quality of life
3. Include IL ABLE in Transition Planning
An IL ABLE Account can be part of a student’s transition plan for employment, independent living and adult services. If the student receives or may later qualify for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, savings in an ABLE account receive special treatment under federal benefit rules.
Up to and including $100,000 in an ABLE account is excluded from the account owner’s countable resources for SSI. An account balance above $100,000 may affect SSI payments, depending on the person’s other resources, but Medicaid may continue if the person remains otherwise eligible.
Families should consult the appropriate benefits agency or a qualified benefits professional about how an ABLE account may affect an individual student’s benefits.
Learn More About IL ABLE
Explore how an IL ABLE disability savings account can help eligible students and adults save for qualified disability expenses while helping protect eligibility for certain means-tested public benefits.
- Learn about IL ABLE disability savings accounts
- Review IL ABLE eligibility requirements
- Read the IL ABLE Plan Disclosure Booklet (PDF)
- Compare IL ABLE investment options
- Open an IL ABLE Account
For account assistance, call IL ABLE Customer Service at 888-609-8683, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm Central Time, or email il.clientservice@savewithable.com. Support is available in multiple languages and for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing.