Treasurer of State kicks off Arkansas ABLE Program
November 12-18, 2018
Savings accounts now available for people with disabilities
Arkansas’ Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, a tax-advantaged investment account for people with disabilities, has been implemented in Arkansas, Treasurer Dennis Milligan announced in late October.
“We are so glad to get this program up and running,” Milligan said. “Since the moment this legislation was enacted into law, we have been researching best practices and equipping staff members with the appropriate knowledge in order to run this program successfully.”
The Arkansas ABLE program was enacted in 2015 as a savings tool for people with disabilities. Its purpose is to allow people with disabilities to save for disability-related expenses on a tax-free basis, while preserving their ability to benefit from Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and other federal programs.
“I firmly believe that we shouldn’t just give someone a fish and feed him or her for a day. Instead, we should teach her to fish and feed her for a lifetime. That is why I so passionately believe in the ABLE program,” said Julie Mayberry, the former state representative who introduced the legislation. “My husband and I expect our daughter, who has spina bifida, to become independent and learn to provide for her own needs. The ABLE act will help her accomplish this.”
Arkansas ABLE accounts are 529-A investment accounts and are open to individuals with a physical or mental disability that is expected to last for at least a year or that can cause death. ABLE accounts are open to people of any age, as long as the disability occurred prior to age 26.
Accounts can be opened for as little as $25 and account owners can contribute up to $15,000, tax-deferred, each year. Owners may also choose to have direct access to the funds in their account via the use of a debit card.
People with ABLE accounts may use the funds for any expense that is incurred as a result of living with a disability and is intended to improve their quality of life. Qualified expenses include but are not limited to education, assistive technology, employment training, housing, legal fees, and funeral expenses.
“This is a program that is going to help so many people in Arkansas be able to have a cushion for the day-to-day expenses of living with a disability,” Milligan said. “I’m eager to see how it empowers those with disabilities to be able to live more independently and take charge of their future.”
More information about the Arkansas ABLE program can be found online at www.ar.savewithable.com or by calling 888-609-8874.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Dennis Milligan, Arkansas Treasurer of State, shakes hands with former state representative Julie Mayberry’s daughter, who will be able to utilize the benefits of Arkansas’ ABLE program. (Photo provided)
