News and Updates from the Illinois State Treasurer's ABLE Plan
IL ABLE at the Disability Pride Parade
It was a great day for the Disability Pride Parade in Chicago on July 22. This year marked the 20th anniversary for the event. The Chicago Disability Pride Parade’s mission is to promote pride among people with disabilities and celebrate disability as a “natural and beautiful part of human diversity.”
New law requires Illinois public schools to share information at annual IEP meetings.
It’s back to school! Did you know that, with this new school year, parents and guardians of Illinois public school students who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) must now be provided with information about IL ABLE Accounts during the students’ annual IEP meetings?
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education to ensure that the estimated 290,000 Illinois public school students who have IEPs – many of whom are eligible to own an IL ABLE Account –will receive information about IL ABLE Accounts at every annual IEP meeting. This is thanks to legislation, sponsored by Sen. David Koehler of Peoria and Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar of Bolingbrook, which passed unanimously with bipartisan support.
Read More “Treasurer Frerichs Partners with Board of Education on IL ABLE”
Ideas for marking Disability Pride Month and the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July is Disability Pride Month. Each year, Disability Pride Month celebrates the rich tapestry of disability experience and honors the collective achievements and history of the disability community.
In May, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stopped by the Village Bakery in Oregon, IL to meet with staff, leadership, educators, and families from the community.
Read More “Treasurer Frerichs Meets with Families at Village Bakery in Oregon, IL”
Resources for understanding how IL ABLE Accounts and public benefits programs work together.
How does owning an IL ABLE Account affect eligibility for federal benefits? That is one of our most frequently asked questions! The good news is that people who are currently receiving federal benefits, or who may receive them in the future, can build savings with an IL ABLE Account and maintain eligibility for federal means-tested programs such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. The following resources provide guidance on how an IL ABLE Account and public benefits programs work together.
IL ABLE will cheer on Account Owner athletes and all of the teams that will compete at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games in Bloomington-Normal, IL this weekend!
Our editors connected with IL ABLE Account Owner and Special Olympics Illinois Global Messenger and athlete Zinyra “Z” Ross and her mom, Simyra. During the interview, Z shared how being a participant and owning her IL ABLE Account boosts her continued achievements as an entrepreneur, artist, disability community advocate and volunteer.
Read More “Special Olympics Illinois Global Messenger Achieves More with her IL ABLE Account”
IL ABLE was proud to be a sponsor of the Arc of Illinois’ 73rd Annual Convention, Reimagining Expectations, held April 19-20. The hybrid event welcomed nearly 350 in-person attendees and more than 100 people participating virtually. Illinois Treasurer’s Office staff had a wonderful time meeting people and sharing information about IL ABLE Accounts.
Use the funds for education and other disability-related expenses.
Do you have funds in a 529 college savings account that you won’t be using? Consider rolling those funds over into a loved one’s existing IL ABLE Account.
Rolling over funds from a 529 college savings account into an IL ABLE Account is a meaningful way to help a loved build financial resources that they can use to pay for a wide range of Qualified Disability Expenses, including education, health and wellness, housing, transportation, and much more. You can learn more about Qualified Disability Expenses on illinoisable.com.
Read More “Unused 529 Funds in your College Savings Account? Roll them into an IL ABLE Account”
In March, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs stopped by the Ray Graham Association to meet with some of the disability services organization’s staff, leadership, and clients who are also IL ABLE Account owners. It was a wonderful visit that provided an opportunity to talk about programs like IL ABLE and the importance of financial literacy.
Read More “Treasurer Michael Frerichs Visits the Ray Graham Association”
Financial wellness is important for people with disabilities!
When people with disabilities think about financial wellness, they sometimes concentrate solely on federal benefits, such as SSI and Medicaid. However, there are other things they can also consider when building a strong financial future, such as saving for an emergency or making a budget. The Illinois Treasurer’s Office offers tools that can help people with and without disabilities as they build financial practices and skills. Read on to learn things that might help you during this Financial Literacy Month.
Read More “It’s Financial Literacy Month: Commit – or Re-commit – to Your Financial Wellness”