Have You Heard About ABLE Accounts? This Could Change Everything for People Living With MS
If you are living with a disability and no one has told you about ABLE Accounts yet, consider this as your introduction to one of the most underutilized financial tools available to you.
7/1/20263 min read
What Is an ABLE Account?
An ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings and investment account designed specifically for people with disabilities. Think of it like a special savings account where your money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free as long as it is used for qualified disability-related expenses.
The kinds of expenses that qualify are things most of us living with chronic illness spend money on every single day: housing, transportation, healthcare, assistive technology, education, and personal support services. These are real life expenses that MS and other disabilities make unavoidable, and an ABLE account gives you a way to save for them without being penalized financially.
Why Are So Few People Using Them?
Here is the part that stopped me in my tracks. There are an estimated 8 million people in the United States who are eligible for an ABLE account. As of December 2025 only 234,000 people actually had one.
That gap is staggering. It tells me that the problem is not eligibility, it is awareness. People simply do not know this exists, and that is exactly why I felt compelled to write this post.
Big News-The Eligibility Rules Just Changed
This is the part I really need you to pay attention to, especially if you were diagnosed with MS in your 30s or 40s.
Beginning in January 2026, the eligibility requirements for ABLE accounts expanded significantly. Previously you had to have a disability with an onset before age 26 to qualify. That age limit has now been raised to before age 46.
This means that millions of people who were previously excluded — including many MS patients who received their diagnosis in their late 20s, 30s, or early 40s, may now be eligible for the first time. If you were diagnosed with MS before your 46th birthday, it is absolutely worth looking into whether you qualify.
What Can You Use an ABLE Account For?
Qualified disability expenses cover a wide range of needs including:
Healthcare and medical expenses including medications and treatments
Housing and utility costs
Transportation including rideshares and vehicle modifications
Assistive technology and adaptive equipment
Education and job training
Personal support services
Financial management services
Recreation and wellness activities related to your disability
For those of us managing MS, this list covers a significant portion of our daily lives. The fact that money saved in these accounts grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free for these expenses, is a genuine financial relief that more people in our community deserve access to.
How Do You Open One?
ABLE accounts are administered at the state level, meaning each state has its own program. However most state programs allow residents from other states to enroll, so you are not necessarily limited to your home state's program. A good starting point is the ABLE National Resource Center at ablenrc.org where you can compare programs and find the one that works best for your situation.
To qualify you generally need to have a disability that began before age 46 and meet the Social Security definition of significant functional limitations. Many people living with MS will meet these criteria, but it is worth checking the specific requirements of the program you are considering.
Why I Am Talking About This
As an MS Ambassador with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and someone who has lived with this disease for over 20 years, financial empowerment is something I care deeply about. MS is expensive. The medications, the appointments, the adaptive tools, the days you cannot work — it all adds up in ways that people who have not lived it cannot fully understand.
If there is a financial tool that can ease even a small portion of that burden and most of our community does not know it exists, then talking about it is part of my purpose.
The federal government is currently investing in expanding awareness of ABLE accounts through a new grant initiative focused on reaching more people with disabilities and their families. I am personally interested in being part of that outreach effort because I believe this community deserves to know every resource available to them.
Your Next Step
If you have MS or another qualifying disability and you have never heard of an ABLE account before today, I encourage you to visit ablenrc.org and spend some time exploring your options. Share this post with someone in your life who might benefit from this information. The more people who know, the more people who can take advantage of what is available to them.
You have enough to manage living with MS. Let every available resource work for you.
With peace and purpose,
Nicole
Founder, Peace Plates & Purpose
MS Ambassador, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
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