ABLE TN celebrates 10 years of helping Tennesseans with disabilities save and invest!
One of the nation’s first ABLE programs marks a decade of expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities
NASHVILLE – This month, the Tennessee Department of Treasury is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of ABLE TN, the state’s Achieving a Better Life Experience program, that has helped thousands of Tennesseans with disabilities save and invest for the future without losing access to essential benefits.
Established by the 109th General Assembly and launched in June 2016, ABLE TN was one of the nation’s first ABLE programs. Today, there are more than 4,500 ABLE TN account holders who have saved more than $76 million toward future disability-related expenses, including $21.6 million in investment earnings.
ABLE TN allows participants to save in tax-advantaged accounts for qualified disability expenses, such as education, housing, transportation, assistive technology, and personal support services, all while preserving their eligibility for programs like Medicaid and SSI. This is especially important because, before ABLE accounts existed, individuals receiving needs‑based benefits like SSI were limited to only $2,000 in personal savings; whereas ABLE TN account holders can save up to $100,000 without jeopardizing their federal benefits. Funds grow tax-free and can be used for a broad range of qualified disability expenses.
Expanded eligibility
The 10-year anniversary also coincides with a major expansion in the number of Tennesseans who can benefit from the program through the ABLE Age Adjustment Act.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the eligibility criteria for ABLE accounts expanded, raising the allowable age of disability onset from 26 to 46. This major change opened the door for an estimated 148,000 additional Tennesseans with disabilities to qualify to open an ABLE TN account, including many military veterans and first responders.
What ABLE TN means to families
For Eden Cathey, ABLE TN has provided a powerful sense of stability and equality.
Eden, 14, has Down syndrome, and her father, Adam, had the foresight to open an ABLE TN account for her the moment the legislation became law in 2016, to help plan for her long‑term needs.
“Having an ABLE TN account for Eden is peace of mind,” Adam said. “I know that 10 years from now or 30 years or whenever, it’ll be there for her, whatever she might need. It’s an extra layer of security for her future.”
To give both of his children the same financial start, Adam has consistently contributed to Eden’s ABLE TN account just as he contributes to his son’s 529 college savings account.
“The ABLE TN account has been a way to treat Eden the same as her brother,” he added. “I put the same amount in each kid’s account every two weeks.”
David and Caleb Buback are 26‑year‑old identical twins living with schizoaffective disorder and autism spectrum disorder. ABLE TN has been instrumental in helping them build greater independence.
“Because of my ABLE Tennessee account, I was able to save for a car, pay it off, and eventually buy a house with my brother,” David said. “It’s helped me build stability and purpose, and I hope my story shows others that they can do it too.”
“An ABLE account is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Caleb Buback said. “It helped me buy my car and my house, and it’s taught me how to manage my money. It keeps us financially stable, especially when something unexpected happens.”
A decade of impact
Over the past 10 years, ABLE TN has achieved major milestones:
- More than 4,555 funded accounts statewide
- Over $76.3 million saved in ABLE TN accounts for future disability-related expenses
- $21.6 million in earnings, demonstrating strong long-term investment performance
- Savers in 87 Tennessee counties
- An average account balance of $16,072 – one of the highest in the nation
“I commend the Tennessee General Assembly for its foresight in improving the lives of our most vulnerable citizens,” said State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. “As one of the nation’s first ABLE programs, ABLE TN has spent its first decade showing the life-changing impact of giving individuals with disabilities the tools to save and invest for their futures. We look forward to the next decade of empowering Tennesseans and their families.”
To learn more about ABLE TN, visit ABLETN.gov.
410