A program geared toward helping Floridians with disabilities save money while not endangering federal disability benefits officially launched with a ceremony in the state capitol Thursday.

  • ABLE United Program a joint federal, state effort
  • Previously, personal savings in excess of $2,000 resulted in denial of benefits

Florida's ABLE United Program is the product of a rare show of cooperation between Washington and Tallahassee. The program will allow Floridians with lifelong disabilities to establish savings accounts that won't impact their ability to receive federal disability benefits.

Such benefits, including Social Security disability income, have historically been linked to income from other sources, with personal savings in excess of $2,000 resulting in a denial of federal payments.

"To be told that you can't make a certain amount of money or save a certain amount of money is a huge letdown, because you want to be independent, you want to have a future, you want to do all these things, and then it's like you can't," said Megan Ackinson, a 22-year-old college student living with cerebral palsy.

Ackinson plans to open an ABLE account that will allow her to build savings for education- and medical-related expenses without impacting her eligibility for Supplemental Security Income. The accounts were authorized by the Florida Legislature following Congressional passage of the ABLE Act.

"If we are going to be a leader where we talk about that someone, everyone, has the ability and the dream to succeed, we cannot let government limit that opportunity because of the benefits that they receive," said Senate President Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando).