Eligibility

PA ABLE Eligibility Overview

Learn about who can open and save with a PA ABLE account.


An "Eligible Individual" Qualified To Have An ABLE Account Must Meet Two Requirements


  1. You must have a qualifying disability. Demonstrated by one of the following:

    • Entitlement to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on blindness or disability; or
    • Entitlement to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits based on blindness or disability; or
    • Self-certification of a similarly severe disability, if not entitled to SSI or SSDI. Demonstrated by the following:
      • Blindness as defined by the Social Security Act (SSA); or
      • A medically determinable physical or mental impairment with marked and severe function limitation that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 continuous months or result in death; and
      • Have a written disability-related diagnosis signed by a physician.

  2. The qualifying disability must have started prior to age 26.



*During enrollment, documentation is not required. Keep records that support eligibility should a state or federal agency request them.


Who Can Open A PA ABLE Account?

An Eligible Individual who is an adult with legal capacity to enter into contracts can open the account for themselves but may also choose to have any other person open and manage the account (“Authorized Individual”).

If the Eligible Individual is a minor or an adult without the legal capacity to enter into contracts, accounts must be opened by an Authorized Individual from the list below, with this order of priority and accompanying documentation.


Authorized Individual
Relationship to Account Owner Required Documentation
1. Power of Attorney Power of Attorney documentation
2. Legal Guardian or Conservator Court order or other documentation granting guardianship of the estate or conservatorship
3. Spouse Marriage certificate
4. Parent Birth certificate of Account Owner
5. Sibling Birth certificates of Account Owner and sibling. For stepsiblings and half-siblings, any documentation that shows the relationship between the account owner and prospective Authorized Individual
6. Grandparent Birth certificates of Account Owner and the parent of the Account Owner who is the child of the grandparent who wishes to be Authorized Individual
7. Representative Payee Letter from Social Security Administration granting Representative Payee status

For accounts opened for a minor or an adult without the legal capacity to enter into contracts, the Authorized Individual should confirm that there are no other individuals who are willing and able to manage the account who have higher priority in the list above.

Additionally, another person with a higher priority, and who provides required documentation, may become the named Authorized Individual on an account.

See Overview FAQs for additional information.




Link to the home page

Connect With Us

Phone: 855-529-ABLE (2253)
Email: info@paable.gov

 

PA ABLE Savings Program
607 South Drive | Room 529
Harrisburg, PA 17120