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Treasurer Fitzpatrick Encourages Support for ABLE Age Adjustment Act in U.S. House and Senate

Jefferson City, MO – Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick today sent a letter to Missouri’s Congressional delegation urging their support for the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. This important legislation will expand program eligibility to those who acquired a disability prior age to 46. Currently, participants must have acquired a disability before age 26.

Prior to the 2014 passage of the Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, people with disabilities could not have more than $2,000 in assets or they would risk losing federal benefits. ABLE accounts make it possible for people with disabilities to save money without forfeiting these benefits.

“The initial passage of the ABLE ACT was a monumental step forward for individuals living with disabilities but there is still work to be done,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick wrote in the letter. “Raising the eligibility age expands access to the program to millions of individuals with disabilities across the country. Additionally, this expansion would help more than one million veterans with disabilities become eligible to open ABLE accounts.”

In the letter, Treasurer Fitzpatrick recounts the story of a man named Sean from Independence, Missouri who approached a staff member at a presentation. He asked if he qualified for MO ABLE because he developed a disability at age 30. As the law stands now, the answer is no, he does not qualify.

“This legislation could change Sean’s story,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick wrote. “It could change the story for millions of Americans.”

HR 1814 can be read here and S.651 can be read here.

A full copy of the letter can be read here.