The Washington State ABLE Account: A Parent's Guide

For Washington families, the hardest part of planning financially for an autistic child often isn't earning or saving the money — it's the $2,000 SSI resource limit that punishes saving in your child's name. The Washington State ABLE Savings Plan is the fix: a dedicated account where savings grow tax-free and stay invisible to the asset tests behind SSI and Medicaid (Apple Health).

Here's how it works in 2026. Confirm current details at washingtonstateable.com before enrolling.

Quick facts

• Program: Washington State ABLE Savings Plan
• 2026 contribution limit: $20,000 per year from all sources combined
• SSI protection: First $100,000 excluded from SSI's resource limit; Apple Health/Medicaid unaffected at any balance
• Washington taxes: No state income tax, so the benefits are federal — tax-free growth and tax-free qualified withdrawals
• New in 2026: Eligibility expanded to anyone whose disability began before age 46

What an ABLE account is

An ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings and investment account created by federal law for people with early-onset disabilities. Your child's autism diagnosis in childhood satisfies the age-of-onset requirement; eligibility itself comes from receiving SSI or SSDI, or from a physician-signed disability certification you self-certify at enrollment. Each person can hold one ABLE account, and anyone — parents, relatives, friends, a special needs trust — may contribute.

The core promise: money in the account doesn't count against the resource limits that govern SSI and most means-tested programs, so your child can finally have savings and benefits at the same time.

What you can pay for

Qualified disability expenses include anything that maintains or improves health, independence, or quality of life:

• Therapies and treatment costs insurance won't cover
• AAC devices, assistive technology, and sensory equipment
• Education expenses and tutoring
• Housing and rent — ABLE is the one way to help with housing without the SSI reductions that normally follow
• Transportation
• Personal support, respite care, and legal or financial services

Withdrawals for anything else are taxed plus a 10% penalty on earnings, so keep records.

Washington taxes and your ABLE account

Washington has no state income tax, so there's no deduction to worry about missing — the plan's value is entirely in the federal treatment. Investments compound tax-free, qualified withdrawals are never taxed, and a working adult account owner contributing their own earnings may qualify for the federal Saver's Credit. Because there's no in-state tax benefit tying you to Washington's plan, Washington families can comparison-shop nationally — but the home-state plan is straightforward and built for exactly this purpose.

How to open an account

1. Enroll online at washingtonstateable.com with your child's Social Security number
2. Self-certify eligibility (SSI/SSDI or physician certification, onset before age 46)
3. Make an opening deposit and choose investment options, including an FDIC-insured cash option
4. Set up automatic contributions — small and steady wins

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

Protecting SSI and Medicaid

Up to $100,000 in ABLE savings is fully disregarded for SSI. Above $100,000, SSI payments are suspended — not terminated — until the balance falls back under the threshold. Apple Health (Washington's Medicaid) is unaffected by the balance entirely, including waiver services many autistic children rely on.

ABLE account vs. special needs trust

An ABLE account is inexpensive, opens in an afternoon, and is ideal for ongoing disability expenses — but limited to $20,000/year in contributions. A special needs trust has no cap and suits large assets like inheritances, at the cost of legal setup and administration. Most families who have both use the trust as the vault and the ABLE account as the wallet; trusts can distribute into ABLE accounts, which then pay for things like housing that trusts can't cover without reducing SSI.

FAQ

Can we start small? Yes — there's no requirement to fund it heavily. Even modest automatic contributions build a protected cushion for adult life.

We have a 529 college plan — can it move over? Yes, 529-to-ABLE rollovers are permanently allowed, within the annual limit.

What's ABLE to Work? If your child works as an adult and lacks an employer retirement plan, they can contribute up to $15,650 above the annual cap from earnings (2026 figure).

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

Related guides

• Autism rights and advocacy
• Your first 100 days after diagnosis
• Supporting non-speaking autistic children
• Oregon ABLE account
• California ABLE account (CalABLE)
• ABLE accounts: the complete guide