As we celebrate Disability Pride Month this July, it’s an opportunity not only to recognize the contributions, talents, and leadership of people with disabilities, but also to examine the barriers that still stand in the way of greater independence. 

One of those barriers is financial security. 

Imagine being told that saving for a house, a car, or an emergency could put critical supports at risk. 

For many people with disabilities, that has been a difficult reality for decades. While most Americans are encouraged to save for future goals, education, housing, transportation, or unexpected expenses, individuals who rely on programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid have often faced strict asset limits that make building financial security far more complicated. Saving too much could mean jeopardizing the supports that help someone live independently, pursue employment, or access healthcare.  

For far too long, that has been a reality for many people with disabilities. The original Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act helped change that by allowing eligible individuals to save for disability-related expenses without automatically jeopardizing access to critical programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. ABLE accounts have opened new pathways to greater independence, helping people save for housing, transportation, education, healthcare, employment supports, and other expenses that improve quality of life.  

Financial independence means having the ability to prepare for unexpected expenses, pursue career opportunities, secure stable housing, and plan for the future with confidence. People with disabilities should not have to choose between building savings and maintaining the supports they need to thrive. 

Awareness remains another critical challenge. Earlier this year, eligibility for ABLE accounts expanded to millions more individuals whose disability began before age 46, up from age 26. Yet many individuals and families still do not know that ABLE accounts exist or understand how they can support greater financial independence. 

But while the ABLE Act was a landmark achievement, the work is not finished. 

Building financial security 

Melwood is proud to support a reintroduction of a bipartisan package of legislation introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jerry Moran (R-KS).  

The package includes the ABLE Tomorrow Act, the ABLE Match Act, and the ABLE Direct Deposit Act. These three bills are designed to strengthen and modernize the ABLE program for the next generation by:  

• Removing barriers that can discourage saving; 

• Creating a federal matching contribution program for eligible ABLE account owners; 

• Expanding flexibility around contributions;  

• Improving protections for people whose account balances exceed certain thresholds; and  

• Making it easier for employers and government programs to deposit funds directly into ABLE accounts.  

The legislation would also expand outreach and education efforts so more people can benefit from these important financial tools.  

“Financial security should not be out of reach for people with disabilities,” said Larysa Kautz, President and CEO of Melwood. “We are proud to support this bipartisan effort to remove barriers and create more pathways to independence.” 

Take Action 

Strong disability policy becomes possible when people raise their voices. To stay informed about legislation like the ABLE package and other issues affecting the disability community, join Melwood Voices, our advocacy network dedicated to advancing opportunity and economic mobility for people with disabilities. 

Sign up today at: https://melwood.org/advocacy/ and add your voice to the movement for greater opportunities for people with disabilities.