Social Security Benefits & ABLE Accounts

APRIL 2024 WEBINAR
Social Security Benefits and ABLE Accounts: Representative Payees, Reporting, and More

In April 2024, ABLE today collaborated with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and ABLE experts to host a comprehensive webinar to provide:

  • Benefits of owning an ABLE Account

  • Relationship between ABLE Accounts and Social Security Disability Benefits

  • Understanding of ABLE-related information that must be provided to SSA

  • Resources on SSA benefits and ABLE Accounts

  • Additional ABLE expert Question and Answer session following the webinar

This webinar was recorded on April 4, 2024 with representatives from ABLE today, the ABLE Savings Plan Network, and the Social Security Administration (“SSA”).  The webinar provides general information from ABLE Programs, as well as technical information from SSA.

In general, most SSA reporting requirements for ABLE accounts are basic and minimal.  If you receive Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits, SSA asks that you report the opening and closing of your ABLE account to SSA.  You should also tell SSA if your ABLE account balance exceeds $100,000.  In a few instances (discussed further in the webinar), a particular ABLE withdrawal or deposit should also be reported to SSA – but those situations are not common for most ABLE account holders.

If you have questions about reporting ABLE account information to SSA, you should contact your local SSA field office.  ABLE-related SSA information can also be found at the following links:

Information for Members of the Public:

Instruction Manuals for SSI professionals, SSA Employees, and Representative Payees:

Webinar Participants: April 2024

Part 1 - ABLE Presentation
Part 3 - ABLE Questions and Answers

John Finch
Director, ABLE United (Florida) at the Florida Prepaid College
Board; and Treasurer, ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN)

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Chair, ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN)

Jolene Wyler
Program Coordinator, ABLE Utah; and
Director, Utah Work Incentive Planning Services (UWIPS)

Part 2 - SSA Presentation

Betsy Blair
Social Insurance Specialist, 
U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA)

Laura Zelik
Social Insurance Specialist, 
U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA)

Moderator

Mark Raymond, Jr.
National Outreach Lead, ABLE today; and
Founder and CEO, Split Second Foundation

Webinar Questions and Answers Support

JJ Hanley 
Director, IL (Illinois) ABLE

Bette Ann Mobley
Director, Maryland ABLE; and
Vice Chair, ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN)

Daniel Nzouankeu
Principal, Relationship Manager, Vestwell State Savings

FEBRUARY 2024 WEBINAR
Social Security Benefits and ABLE Accounts

In February 2023, NAST’s ABLE Savings Plan Network and ABLE today collaborated with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and ABLE experts to host a comprehensive webinar to provide:

  • Benefits of owning an ABLE Account

  • Relationship between ABLE Accounts and Social Security Disability Benefits

  • Understanding of ABLE-related information that must be provided to SSA

  • Resources on SSA benefits and ABLE Accounts

  • Additional ABLE expert Question and Answer session following the webinar

Webinar Participants: February 2023

Part 1 and 2- ABLE and SSA Presentations

SState Treasurer Stacy Garrity
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Chair, ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN)

JJ Hanley 
Director, IL (Illinois) ABLE

Betsy Blair
Social Insurance Specialist, 
U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA)

Part 3 - ABLE Questions and Answers

Juliana Crist
Senior Consultant, AKF Consulting

Bette Ann Mobley
Director, Maryland ABLE; and
Vice Chair, ABLE Savings Plans Network (ASPN)

Sally Riefenstahl
Vice President for 529 and ABLE, Vestwell State Savings

Moderator

Eric Ochmanek
Director of ABLE today

HELPFUL SSA RESOURCES

SPOTLIGHT ON ACHIEVING A BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE (ABLE) ACCOUNTS
https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-able.html

CREATE OR LOGIN TO YOUR SSA ACCOUNT
https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount

SSA PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEM (POMS)

GN 02402.005 - Direct Deposit Information for All Types of Interviews

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402005

SI 01130.740 - Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0501130740