Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts
- Rachel Hafner
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
An ABLE account is a savings and/or investment option for people with disabilities who qualify. Living with a disability is expensive. These accounts allow individuals to save and invest money for disability-related expenses without losing eligibility for many federally funded benefits.
Individuals are eligible to open an ABLE account if their disability began before age 26* and they meet the required severity of disability in one of two ways:
they are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); or,
their licensed physician signs a document including the diagnosis and stating that they have “marked and severe” functional limitations which began before age 26.
An ABLE account may be opened at any age, and the account is always opened in the name of the person who has a disability. Typically, the account owner or authorized legal representative certifies that they have the necessary documentation and are not required to upload a copy of it during the enrollment process. Enrollment processes and requirements do vary by state.
North Dakota does not currently offer an ABLE Plan. They do provide information and resources on the Bank of North Dakota website. No matter where you reside, you can open an ABLE account in any state that accepts outside residents into their program. This interactive map and corresponding webpage show which programs allow out-of-state participation.
Some ABLE programs may not work with North Dakota residents who have guardianship because the state’s five-year guardianship review creates an automatic expiration date. Since guardians frequently manage ABLE accounts, any possibility that the guardianship might lapse, or change means the guardian’s authority over the account could also end. For this reason, it’s important to ask ABLE programs whether they can accommodate North Dakota’s five-year review process.
Our staff recently attended an online seminar hosted by The ABLE National Resource Center. They provided a lot of very useful information. Follow the links below to learn more:
*Please note, on January 1, 2026, the age of ABLE eligibility is expanded to include people who have a disability that began before age 46.
This was article was originally published in our Inclusion Connection newsletter on November 20, 2025. Sign up to receive our Inclusion Connection newsletter by clicking on the link below.
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