The final municipal fund security type recognized by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) is the ABLE account: a tax-advantaged savings vehicle designed specifically for individuals with disabilities.
What Is an ABLE Account?
- A tax-advantaged savings account for individuals with disabilities
- Established under the ABLE Act of 2014 (Internal Revenue Code provisions for disability-savings accounts)
- Designed to supplement (not replace) government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid
- Classified as a municipal fund security under MSRB rules
Eligibility Requirements
- The individual's disability must have had its onset before age 46
- The disability must be expected to last at least 12 consecutive months
- The individual must meet Social Security Administration criteria for a significant disability
- Only one ABLE account per eligible individual is permitted
Exam Tip: Gotchas
- The age threshold applies to disability onset, not the individual's current age. Someone whose disability began before age 46 can open an ABLE account at any current age. The cutoff was raised from 26 to 46 by the ABLE Age Adjustment Act within SECURE 2.0, effective January 1, 2026.
Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Tax treatment | Tax-deferred growth; tax-free withdrawals for qualified disability expenses |
| Annual contribution limit | Tied to annual gift tax exclusion ($19,000 in 2026) |
| SSI impact | Benefits suspended (not terminated) if ABLE balance exceeds $100,000 |
| Medicaid impact | NOT affected by ABLE account balances during the beneficiary's lifetime |
| Account limit | One ABLE account per eligible individual |
| State requirement | Can be opened in any state (not limited to state of residence) |
| Account owner | The beneficiary is the account owner (or an authorized individual can manage it) |
Qualified Disability Expenses
ABLE account funds can be used tax-free for a broad range of expenses:
- Education: tuition, books, supplies
- Housing: rent, mortgage, utilities
- Transportation: vehicle purchase, public transit, rideshare
- Health care: medical, dental, vision, mental health
- Assistive technology: adaptive equipment, software
- Employment support: job training, coaching
- Financial management: legal fees, account maintenance
- Basic living expenses: food, clothing
ABLE vs. 529 Plan Comparison
| Feature | ABLE Account | 529 Education Savings Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Disability-related expenses | Education expenses |
| Eligibility | Disability onset before age 46 | Anyone (no restrictions) |
| Annual contribution limit | Gift tax exclusion amount (~$18-19K) | No federal limit (state caps apply) |
| Tax treatment | Tax-free growth + qualified withdrawals | Tax-free growth + qualified withdrawals |
| Number of accounts | One per individual | Unlimited |
| Impact on benefits | SSI suspended above $100K | May affect financial aid (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) |
| Account owner | Beneficiary | Typically parent/grandparent |
| Qualified expenses | Broad (housing, health, transport, etc.) | Education only |
Impact on Government Benefits
The SSI vs. Medicaid distinction is frequently tested:
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income): Benefits are suspended (not terminated) when the ABLE account balance exceeds $100,000
- "Suspended" means benefits resume automatically once the balance drops below $100,000
- "Terminated" would mean the individual must reapply. This is NOT what happens
- Medicaid: Benefits are NOT affected by ABLE account balance during the beneficiary's lifetime (the Medicaid payback provision below applies only at death)
- ABLE accounts were specifically designed to let eligible individuals save without losing essential government benefits
Think of it this way: "Suspended" is like pausing a streaming subscription. You stop getting the service, but your account stays active and resumes when you reactivate. "Terminated" would mean closing the account entirely and starting over from scratch. SSI is paused, not closed.
Exam Tip: Gotchas
- SSI is SUSPENDED (not terminated) above $100,000. Benefits resume when the balance drops. During the beneficiary's lifetime, Medicaid is NOT affected at all by the ABLE balance (the payback provision below kicks in only at death). The exam may present "terminated" or suggest lifetime Medicaid is impacted as wrong answers.
What Happens at the Beneficiary's Death
When an ABLE account beneficiary dies, the account does not simply pass to heirs free and clear:
- The state may file a Medicaid payback claim against the remaining ABLE account balance
- The claim covers only Medicaid benefits paid after the ABLE account was established, not retroactively from birth
- Only Medicaid is subject to payback; SSI, SNAP, and other government programs are not
- Any funds remaining after the state's claim passes to the beneficiary's estate or designated heirs
Think of it this way: The state helped pay the beneficiary's medical bills while they were alive. When the account closes, the state gets first claim on what is left, but only for the bills it paid after the account was opened. Everything before that is not its claim.
Exam Tip: Gotchas
- The Medicaid payback claim is limited to benefits paid after the ABLE account was opened, not all Medicaid ever paid. Answer choices offering "all benefits since birth" or "all government benefits (SSI, SNAP, Medicaid)" are wrong. Only Medicaid, only post-account.
- During the beneficiary's lifetime, Medicaid is NOT affected by the ABLE balance. The payback provision only applies after death. These two rules are tested separately and are easy to confuse.