ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities that help them save for qualified disability-related expenses without jeopardizing federal means-tested benefits such as SSI or Medicaid. As people with disabilities have been limited in their ability to go places during the COVID-19 pandemic and have received additional funds in federal stimulus payments, exceeding asset limits has become a reality for many, potentially putting critical benefits at risk.
Organizational Representative Payees are trusted financial managers for many people with disabilities. Traditionally, ABLE plans limit the appointment of an Authorized Legal Representative to “natural person”. This session will examine how the Maryland ABLE program has worked with organizations to establish themselves as an Entity Power of Attorney and serve as the Authorized Legal Representative(ALR) thereby solving the challenge of a single employee serving as the ALR with fiduciary responsibility for a large number of people. An Organization serving as an ALR provides a simple way for the organization to help people they provide services to, who wish to have ABLE accounts, save money while protecting critical benefits.
A recording will be made available for registrants.
Presenter(s)
Bette Ann Mobley, Director Maryland ABLE
Michael Kipe, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, The Arc of Washington County, Inc.
