News and Updates from the Illinois State Treasurer's ABLE Plan
Join Illinois’ First Financial Wellness Training for Disability
The National Disability Institute, with the support of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, brings Illinoisans the first in a three-part financial wellness training series for families and self-advocates with disabilities in Illinois.
They are Making a Difference for Their Kids’ Futures
This month, Chicago Parent Magazine Special Parent issue features the Marchialettes, the Christensens and the Butlers, three families that have different lives and different needs. But they have two things in common: they each have a child with a disability, and they are saving with Illinois ABLE accounts to ensure bright, fulfilling futures for their kids.
Read their Special Parent story here.
New Flexibility Is Here to Open an IL ABLE Account
Are you a Guardian of an adult with a disability? Have you tried to open an Illinois ABLE account as an Authorized Individual for the adult, but didn’t have the right Guardianship documents to complete the enrollment?
Illinois ABLE Checks in with an Account Owner
Last year, IL ABLE account owner Tim had just finished college when he told his story about having his IL ABLE account. With a year of life and IL ABLE experience under his belt, we check back in with Tim this month to get an update:
Illinois ABLE account owners turned up the heat when they competed in the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games in Normal, Illinois in June. A big shout out goes to these special individuals who are building lifelong experiences of independence and belonging through Special Olympics Illinois and IL ABLE account ownership.
It’s time to increase eligibility from age 26 to 46!
Countless people with disabilities have asked us at IL ABLE, “Why did my disability have to happen before I turned 26 to make me eligible for an ABLE account? This seems so arbitrary and excludes so many people with disabilities.”
The information you need about the Illinois ABLE Plan is at your fingertips
ABLE Accounts do not impact HUD Benefits
Many of you have been afraid to open an Illinois ABLE account out of fear that you will lose your Section-8 housing or other benefits. You wanted to wait until you heard from HUD before enrolling in ABLE. Wait no more!
Illinois ABLE is proud to help Light it Up Blue to raise Autism Awareness this month!
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is usually diagnosed before age 26. As a result, many individuals with Autism are eligible to own ABLE accounts and to save for the additional expenses that often accompany the disorder. Things such as behavioral intervention, speech and language and sensory integration therapies, or therapeutic equipment such as assistive communications devices, weighted vests or specialized diets.
March 3 in Chicago was a windy, gray day with about a 15-degree wind chill – so cold that machines had to be used to break the ice for the annual Chicago Special Olympics Polar Plunge. But that didn’t stop State Treasurer Frerichs from taking the Plunge to support two great ways that individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities can build greater independence and quality of life: Illinois ABLE and Special Olympics.
Illinois ABLE accounts give eligible individuals with disabilities a new way to save funds for greater financial independence and participation in community life. Special Olympics programs provide opportunities for athletes to develop skills and capacities that can contribute to greater independence and full life. Congratulations to all of the Plungers!
Want to learn more about Illinois ABLE accounts? Click here.
For facts about ABLE, visit our new FAQs web page.
