Illinois Treasurer Upgrades Able UP Disability Savings

Expanded eligibility and lower fees make the state's ABLE savings program available to more residents with disabilities.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Special Needs

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a small glass jar holding a green seedling on a cream surface, with a single coin beside it. — Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced upgrades to the Able UP disability savings program, cutting fees and expanding eligibility to about 250,000 more residents. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should state governments do more to help disabled residents build savings?

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced upgrades to the Able UP disability savings program, formerly known as Illinois ABLE. The changes include lower annual maintenance fees and a new mobile app run by Vestwell.

Why it matters

Federal ABLE eligibility requirements expanded effective January 1, 2026, raising the maximum age of disability onset from 26 to 46. The changes are expected to make an additional 250,000 state residents eligible to open an account.

Annual maintenance fees will decrease between 38% and 52%, depending on how account holders receive account information. Individuals whose disabilities began before age 46 may now qualify, up from age 26.

The players

Michael Frerichs

Illinois State Treasurer who announced the upgrades to the Able UP program.

Vestwell

Financial services firm that has taken over as manager of the Able UP program, providing the mobile app and daily operations.

The details

The program now offers an FDIC-insured savings option, multilingual customer support, online bill payments, and an optional reloadable prepaid credit card. Account holders can check balances, contribute, withdraw funds and manage savings through the Vestwell mobile app, while Vestwell oversees daily operations, investment administration and customer service. Illinois residency is not required to open an account, and contributors may qualify for a state income tax deduction.

January 1, 2026: Expanded federal ABLE eligibility requirements took effect.
November 10, 2026: Treasurer Frerichs announced the Able UP program changes.

Policy Context

The Illinois upgrades build on federal ABLE Act provisions that now allow onset of disability up to age 46, up from 26. The state program's changes implement that expansion locally.

Families of residents whose disabilities began between ages 26 and 46 may now be able to open an Able UP account. Lower annual fees could reduce the cost of saving without affecting eligibility for certain benefits.

The takeaway

Families should check whether an Able UP account fits their situation, since eligibility now extends to disabilities that began before age 46. Lower fees and new digital tools may make consistent saving easier to maintain.