ABLE accounts and overpayments
Two money problems come up often: saving without losing SSI, and a letter that says you were paid too much.
This is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Agencies decide. We opened the public pages named here on October 14, 2026.
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Talk to a real person
Social Security. A representative can talk through an overpayment notice. Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is not legal advice.
SSI resource limits
Countable resources cannot be over $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple at the start of the month. The home you live in does not count. One vehicle used for transportation does not count. If you are over the limit, you cannot get SSI for that month.
ABLE accounts
Social Security does not decide ABLE eligibility. As of January 1, 2026, the disability must have begun before age 46. Only one account is allowed. Up to $100,000 in the account is ignored for SSI. If the amount over $100,000 pushes you over the SSI resource limit, SSI can be suspended, and Medicaid can continue if you otherwise stay eligible. The spotlight's main section says the 2026 contribution limit is $20,000. A later answer on the same page still prints $19,000. Ask the program before you deposit. A working owner may be able to add more. Read that part on the page.
Money taken out for housing, or for a cost that is not a qualified disability expense, counts as a resource if you still have it the next month. Look at your home state's plan first. California's plan is CalABLE. Social Security points to a list of state programs and does not endorse a company.
If Social Security says you were overpaid
An overpayment means they paid more than they should have. The SSI overpayment page says the notice asks for a full refund within 30 days. If you are getting payments and do not pay in full, the notice proposes to withhold the lesser of 10 percent or the entire monthly payment. If you disagree with the fact or the amount, you can ask for reconsideration. If you appeal within 60 days of receiving the notice, the page says current payments continue until a determination.
A waiver is a different request. You can ask Social Security to waive the overpayment if it was not your fault and you cannot afford housing, food, clothes, or medical care, or repayment would be unfair for another reason. The form is SSA-632-BK. You can ask at any time. If it was not your fault and the overpayment is $2,000 or less, call 1-800-772-1213. You may not need the form. You can ask for reconsideration, a waiver, or both. If a waiver is denied, you can appeal that denial. Form SSA-634 asks for a lower withholding. This is not legal advice.
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