Treasurer Stacy Garrity: PA ABLE Honored as Program of the Year at 5th Annual PA Community Health Worker Conference

Harrisburg, PA - In a major win for Pennsylvania's disability community, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today celebrated the PA ABLE Savings Program (PA ABLE) being named the Program of the Year at the 5th Annual PA Community Health Worker Conference sponsored by the North Central Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NCPA AHEC) and the Eastcentral Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (ECPA AHEC).

"I'm honored to have PA ABLE recognized as the Program of the Year by NCPA AHEC and ECPA AHEC. PA ABLE gives Pennsylvanians with disabilities a powerful path to financial security and increased independence and our team is working tirelessly to ensure everyone who can benefit from saving with PA ABLE knows about the incredible flexibility of this life-changing program."

Since taking office in 2021, Treasurer Garrity has reduced fees for PA ABLE accounts multiple times and she has grown the program into the fifth largest ABLE program in the country, quadrupling in size. There are now more than 14,000 PA ABLE accounts with over $225 million saved.

PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts provide a tax-free way for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and their families to save for disability-related expenses without impacting eligibility for important benefits. PA ABLE account owners can choose from a variety of investment options and have access to a prepaid debit card. Savings can be used for a wide variety of disability-related expenses, such as groceries, rent, transportation, healthcare, education, vehicle modifications, assistive technology and more.

Account owners can contribute up to $20,000 annually, with higher limits possible through ABLE to Work, and contributions up to $19,000 can be deducted on PA state income taxes.

More Americans than ever before can now save with PA ABLE accounts, including more than one million Veterans with the expansion of eligibility this year to include anyone whose qualifying disability was onset prior to the age of 46.

"Originally established nearly a decade ago, PA ABLE allows individuals with qualifying disabilities to save and invest for future disability-related expenses without risking their eligibility for vital government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. PA Community Health Workers are pleased to refer clients to the PA ABLE program allowing the clients to save for future financial needs without worrying over the loss of medical care or SSI."

NCPA AHEC and ECPA AHEC are nonprofit organizations that work to develop clinical and non-clinical health-related programs, collaborate with organizations, and advocate for access to quality health care in every community. NCPA AHEC serves Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga and Union counties. ECPA AHEC serves Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties.

Visit paable.gov to learn more about how to save with PA ABLE.

To learn more about the Pennsylvania Treasury, visit patreasury.gov. For the latest Pennsylvania Treasury news and updates, follow PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Facebook and @PATreasury on Instagram. You can also sign up for Treasury's newsletter here.