The Attainable Savings Plan (Massachusetts ABLE): A Parent's Guide

Massachusetts' ABLE program is the Attainable Savings Plan, managed by Fidelity — and for families of autistic children on SSI or MassHealth it solves the central savings problem: the $2,000 resource limit that makes ordinary accounts in your child's name a liability.

Here's how Attainable works in 2026. Confirm current details at fidelity.com/able or attainablesavings.com before enrolling.

Quick facts

• Program: Attainable Savings Plan, sponsored by MEFA and managed by Fidelity (open to residents of any state)
• 2026 contribution limit: $20,000 per year from all sources combined
• SSI protection: First $100,000 excluded from SSI's resource limit; MassHealth unaffected at any balance
• Massachusetts taxes: No state deduction currently offered for ABLE contributions — the benefits are federal (tax-free growth and withdrawals)
• New in 2026: Eligibility expanded to anyone whose disability began before age 46

What an ABLE account is

An ABLE account is a federally authorized savings and investment account for people whose disability began early in life. A childhood autism diagnosis satisfies the age-of-onset test; eligibility comes through SSI/SSDI or a physician's disability certification, self-certified at enrollment. Earnings grow tax-free, qualified withdrawals are tax-free, and the balance stays off the books for means-tested benefits. One account per person; anyone can contribute, including a special needs trust.

What you can pay for

Qualified disability expenses include anything supporting health, independence, or quality of life: uncovered therapy costs, AAC devices and assistive technology, education and tutoring, housing and rent, transportation, sensory equipment, personal support services, respite care, and legal or financial fees. In the Massachusetts housing market, the rent use case matters — ABLE funds can pay housing costs without the SSI reductions that normally follow help from parents. Keep receipts; non-qualified withdrawals cost tax plus a 10% penalty on earnings.

Massachusetts taxes and your ABLE account

Massachusetts offers a modest deduction for its 529 college plan, but that benefit does not currently extend to ABLE contributions — confirm with your tax preparer each year, since state rules change. Plan around the federal benefits: tax-free compounding, tax-free qualified withdrawals, and potential Saver's Credit eligibility for a working adult account owner. Attainable's practical advantage is the Fidelity platform: familiar tools, eight risk-based portfolios, and easy integration with a Fidelity Cash Management Account for day-to-day spending.

How to open an account

1. Enroll online through Fidelity with your child's Social Security number
2. Self-certify eligibility (SSI/SSDI or physician certification, onset before age 46)
3. Make an opening contribution and choose among the risk-based portfolio options
4. Set up automatic monthly contributions

Parents and guardians can open and manage the account as the Authorized Legal Representative for a minor or an adult child who needs support.

Protecting SSI and MassHealth

Up to $100,000 is fully disregarded for SSI; above that, SSI payments are suspended — not terminated — until the balance falls back below the threshold. MassHealth, including waiver services, is unaffected at any balance.

ABLE account vs. special needs trust

Massachusetts has a deep special needs planning bar, and the standard structure holds: the trust for large assets (no contribution cap, durable controls, real cost), the ABLE account for accessible day-to-day disability spending — especially housing, which trusts can't pay without reducing SSI. The trust can distribute into the ABLE account.

FAQ

Is my child eligible without SSI? Yes — a physician's certification of a qualifying disability with onset before age 46 is enough.

Can we roll over a U.Fund 529? Yes, 529-to-ABLE rollovers are permanently allowed within the annual limit.

What's ABLE to Work? An employed account owner without a workplace retirement plan can add up to $15,650 above the annual cap from earnings (2026 figure).

General information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm current details with the Attainable Savings Plan.

Related guides

• Autism rights and advocacy
• Autism support groups
• Autism scholarships
• ABLE accounts: the complete guide
• New York ABLE account