Enabling financial inclusion with Voya Cares®: The expanding power of ABLE accounts

At Voya Financial, our purpose is clear: We fight for everyone’s opportunity for a better financial future. Through Voya Cares, we bring that purpose to life for people with disabilities and their caregivers — championing education, resources and financial strategies that can advance independence and stability.

As we look ahead to 2026, one of the most meaningful opportunities for progress is the expansion of ABLE account eligibility — a change that will open the door for millions more individuals to build and protect their financial well-being.

Why ABLE accounts matter

Households with a disabled member require 28% more income per year — that’s an additional $17,690 annually.¹ This reality underscores why it’s important to consider inclusive financial solutions that can help the disabilities community save for their futures.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, ABLE accounts will become available to millions more individuals with disabilities. For those who rely on means-tested government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid and SNAP, ABLE accounts offer a unique advantage: They allow individuals to save and invest without losing eligibility, even with asset limits as low as $2,000.

ABLE accounts also can offer tax-free earnings when used for qualified disability expenses — everything from housing and transportation to education, assistive technology and job supports.

How it all began

ABLE accounts started with the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which was the result of nearly a decade of grassroots advocacy by parents of children with disabilities. The movement began with a group of parents in Virginia who wanted to create a way for individuals with disabilities to save money without losing eligibility for essential public benefits. The ABLE Act passed in 2014 with strong bipartisan support and created a new chapter of opportunity for people living with disabilities.

What’s next: Expanded eligibility in 2026

With the 2022 ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which takes effect in just a few short weeks on Jan. 1, 2026, eligibility expands from individuals whose disability began before age 26 to onset before are 46, adding an estimated 6 million more individuals, including over a million veterans.² This means millions more people will have access to a tool that helps protect benefits, builds financial security and supports long-term independence.

If you or someone you support could benefit from an ABLE account, now is the time to learn more.

Visit the resources below, share this article within your networks, and help us spread awareness ahead of the 2026 eligibility expansion.

Learn More About ABLE accounts