Benefits

Your benefits are here to stay

When you open an account, you won’t lose your state or federal benefits.

A STABLE account through the Palmetto ABLE Savings Program helps you supplement your current benefits in order to save for qualified expenses. If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you can have up to $100,000 in the account without it counting towards the $2,000 asset limit. If you choose to go over the $100,000 limit, your SSI benefits will be suspended, but you’ll still be eligible for all other benefits (such as Medicaid). Once your balance drops below the limit, your SSI benefits will resume as normal.

No impact on Medicaid benefits

The money in your STABLE account will not affect your eligibility for Medicaid benefits. For more information, please see this helpful guide from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Get more of the things you need

The money in your account can be used for various everyday expenses, like housing and rent. Qualified expenses are geared toward improving health, independence, and quality of life, and include:

• Living expenses

• Education

• Housing

• Transportation

• Employment, training, and support

• Assistive technology

• Personal support services

• Health, prevention, and wellness

• Financial management

• Administrative services

• Legal fees

• Oversight and monitoring

• Funeral and burial costs, and more

Keep track of your expenses

We don’t need to see your receipts, but the IRS might. You should keep documentation of your purchases in case the IRS asks for it, and you have to provide proof of how you spent the money in your account.

Enjoy the benefits of the STABLE Visa® Card

The STABLE Visa Card is available to everyone with a STABLE account through the Palmetto ABLE Savings Program. The STABLE Visa Card does not pull money directly out of your STABLE account. Instead, you get to choose a specific amount of money to load onto your card, which can help better control budgets and plan for your qualified disability expenses. The STABLE Visa Card's discrete loading feature allows you to limit how much money your loved one can access at any given time.

Learn more about the STABLE Visa Card

What if I buy something that doesn’t qualify?

You’ll have to pay tax on growth, plus a 10% penalty on earnings for non-qualified items. Also, keep in mind that any non-qualified withdrawals are considered income for the month and could count against your eligibility for SSI benefits or Medicaid.

Save and invest tax free