The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program has helped individuals withdisabilities experience more financial freedom without losing eligibility to federal assistance programs.The proposed legislation put forth by Senators Jerry Moran and Chris Van Hollen aims to expand andimprove the ABLE program by further supporting and helping disabled individuals and their familiesbecome more financially free. Advanced Legal Planning will provide updates on this legislation whenwe receive it. Below is the press release detailing the proposed legislative changes to the ABLEprogram.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–May 14, 2026
Contact for Sen. Moran: Angela Lingg
Contact for Sen. Van Hollen: Francesca Amodeo
Sens. Moran, Van Hollen Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen & Improve ABLE Program Bills build on ABLE’s success by expanding the program’s access & awareness so individuals with disabilities can achieve financial security
WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) this week introduced three pieces of bipartisan legislation to strengthen and improve access to theAchieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program: the ABLE Tomorrow Act, the ABLE Match Act and the ABLE Direct Deposit Act. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
Created in 2014, the ABLE program allows individuals with disabilities to utilize savings accounts without losing eligibility for federal programs. Sen. Moran was an original sponsor of the legislation establishing the ABLE program in the Senate. Sen. Van Hollen, then serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsored the legislation in the House. In January 2026, an update to the ABLE program from Sen. Moran’s ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which was cosponsored by Sen. Van Hollen, went into effect and ispredicted to double the number of individuals with disabilities eligible for ABLE accounts.
“The ABLE program has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by improving their options to prepare for the future and removing barriers that have hindered their path to financial security and independence,” said Sen. Moran. “As an original sponsor of the legislation to create ABLE accounts and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, I have worked to strengthen and improve the ABLE Program by expanding access so more individuals with disabilities can save, plan for the future and gain greater financial independence.”
“Over a decade ago, we passed the bipartisan ABLE Act – empowering people with disabilities to take charge of their economic futures without jeopardizing eligibility for critical federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income,” said Sen. Van Hollen.“ Now, we are fighting to strengthen and modernize the ABLE program to expand access to and awareness of ABLE accounts so people with disabilities and their families can continue taking advantage of these opportunities to plan and save. The ABLE Tomorrow, ABLE Match, and ABLE Direct Deposit Acts will build on the successes of the ABLE Act to strengthen these Americans’ financial security, independence, and quality of life for years to come.”
“ABLE accounts give people with disabilities a vital pathway to build savings and greater financial independence without jeopardizing essential benefits,”said Jill Jacobs, Executive Director, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD).”This legislative package strengthens and modernizes the ABLE program so more individuals and families can take advantage of this important tool for economic security.”
The ABLE Tomorrow Act would:
- Strengthen and modernize the ABLE program by eliminating the Medicaid clawback; creating exceptions to annual contribution limits for certain 529 rollovers and one-time contributions; establishing a two-month grace period and a notification requirement before Social Security benefits are suspended when an account exceeds the $100,000 threshold; and allowing employers to contribute to an employee’s ABLE account in lieu of a defined contribution plan without jeopardizing benefit eligibility.
- Expand awareness of the ABLE program by directing federal and state agencies to inform eligible individuals about ABLE accounts across programs such as Social Security, VA benefits, Medicaid, TANF, SNAP, vocational rehabilitation, Medicare, Head Start and special education; and authorizing $50 million annually through FY2031 for state and tribal grants to increase ABLE awareness and enrollment.
The ABLE Match Act would:
- Create a new federal program that matches contributions made to an ABLE account of up to $2,000 peryear and authorizes $5 million annually through 2030, subject to congressional appropriations, forpromoting ABLE accounts and the new matching benefit.
The ABLE Direct Deposit Act would:
- Reaffirm that direct deposits from employer and government program contributions can be made toABLE accounts.
The legislative package is also supported by: Able Americans; 2Gether-International; Association of UniversityCenters on Disabilities (AUCD); American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR); Autism Society of America; Autism Speaks; Cure SMA; Easter Seals; Global Connections to Employment; Melwood; Muscular Dystrophy Association; National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA); National Disability Institute; National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS); National Federal of Blind (NFB); Partners in Promise; CEO Commission for Disability Employment; National Organization on Disability (NOD); Disability Rights Center of Kansas; Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities; SEEC; New Disabled South; Association of People Supporting Employment First; Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition; andNational Down Syndrome Congress.
In addition, the ABLE Tomorrow Act is endorsed by the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) andABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN).