California

Program Name: CalABLE (click to open an account) Phone: 1.833.225.2253
Status: Open for Enrollment
ABLE Plan Flyer: https://calable.ca.gov/uploads/calable/attachments/clpvei2p41cfz0ipm02fp5rnl-calable-fact-sheet-2023-update-v4-en.pdf
State Program Manager: Vestwell State Savings, LLC effective August 21, 2023
State Account Limit: $529,000
Accepts Out Of State Residents: Yes
Rep. Payee Multiple Access: Yes. Call the ABLE plan to discuss the option to enroll multiple account owners and manage the accounts.
Annual Contribution Limit: $19,000 (This limit is a Federal limit that is required of all states and does not include additional ABLE to Work contributions.)
ABLE To Work Act Contribution: An Account Owner who is employed and who is not contributing to a defined contribution plan, an annuity contract or an eligible deferred compensation plan may contribute additional money to their ABLE Account. The additional amount that may be deposited is an amount equal to the Account Owner’s employment income or equal to the poverty line for a one-person household for the prior calendar year, whichever amount is the less. This is up to $15,060 for residents of the continental U.S.; $18,810 for residents of Alaska and $17,310 for residents of Hawaii.
Program Banking Institution: BNY Mellon
Number Investment Options: 8
Program Investment Institution(s): Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, BNY Mellon
Debit Prepaid Card Feature: Yes
Withdrawal Hold Rules: Yes.   Contributions made to your account by the Account Owner or Authorized Legal Representative are subject to a 5-day hold. Contributions made by third parties may be subject to a 10-day hold. Additionally, a change in mailing address will result in a 15 day hold before a check withdrawal can be made to the updated address. A change in bank account will result in a 10 day hold before an ACH can be made to that bank account. For ACH withdrawals, you will typically receive the funds within two to five Business Days after CalABLE processes the request. For a check withdrawal request, you will typically receive the check within seven to ten Business Days after CalABLE processes the request. However, those time frames are not guaranteed, and various circumstances may cause your receipt of the funds or the check to be delayed.
Medicaid Estate Recovery Status: California law prevents Medi-Cal from seeking reimbursement from the CalABLE accounts of California residents, unless otherwise required by federal law.
State Income Tax Deduction: No.
FDIC Insured: Yes. Investments in the FDIC-Insured Portfolio are FDIC insured up to $250,000, subject to certain FDIC limits and restrictions.
ABLE Legislation:

Assembly Bill 449 (2015) implements the federal ABLE Act in California

*AB-339 Qualified ABLE Program: age limit (Irwin)*AB-339 Qualified ABLE Program: age limit (Irwin)

Account Disclosure Document(s):

Please See Plan Disclosure Document


Additional Information:

What is your plan’s policy regarding payment of funeral / burial expenses as a qualified disability expense (QDE) prior to account freeze:  In the event of the death of a beneficiary, the funds from a CalABLE account can be used by his or her estate to repay any outstanding eligible expenses, funeral, and burial costs. *As part of the estate, funds in the ABLE account are subject to federal estate tax.

Does your plan allow for naming any beneficiary on the account? A successor for an ABLE account must be a sibling, step-sibling, or half-sibling of the Account Owner and must also qualify for an ABLE account. A successor must be added to the account before the death of the beneficiary.

Program at a Glance

  • Is there an initial minimum contribution requirement to open an ABLE account? If so, how much?
    Yes. $25.
  • Is there a required minimum contribution to your account? If so, what is the amount?
    Yes. $1.
  • Is there an annual set fee to maintain the account? If so, how much?
    Yes. $30 per year withdrawn in 4 quarterly installments.
  • Are there fees or restrictions to the number of disbursement you are allowed? If so, what are they?
    No. No. There are no restrictions on the number of withdrawals that can be taken. There are no fees with withdrawals taken by check or ACH.
  • Is there a “debit card/purchasing card” available with the program? If so, what is the added cost?
    Yes. $1.50 per month (currently waived) The ABLE plan True Link Cards is avialable for ABLE account owner and authorized legal representative.
  • Can I roll over my ABLE account to another ABLE program? If so, what is the fee to do so?
    Yes. $0.
  • Fee Range
    • Annual Maintenance Fee:
      $30 per year withdrawn in 4 quarterly installments.
    • Check Fee:
      $0
    • Debit Card Fee:
      $1.50 per month (currently waived)
    • Investment Option Fee Range:

      Please see Plan Disclosure Document

    • Statement Fee:
      $10 per year
    • ABLE Account Transfer Fee:
      $0
    • Withdrawal Transaction Fee:
      There is no charge for withdrawals.
  • Are there other characteristics unique to your program?

    Entity Enrollments and online Entity Account Management; Parent Landing page; Unique gifting solution that allows family and friends to contribution via ACH, Debit Card, and Checks; Direct Deposit of SSA Benefits or Payroll

    Description of plan’s Recertification of ABLE Eligibility Policy: If an account owner is no longer eligible for their CalABLE Account, they simply have to notify the Program of this change.

    Does your plan allow for different Levels of Control for who manages spending and investments from the ABLE account? The CalABLE True Link Cards allows the ABLE account owner and/or authorized legal representative to set limits on qualified disability expense spending.

    Do you have a policy for opening an account for an account owner who does not have a guardian or conservator for managing spending and investments from the ABLE account? If a beneficiary is under the age of 18 or unable to open an account on their own, they must have an Authorized Legal Representative (also known as an ALR) do it for them. An ALR may be anyone who is selected by the eligible beneficiary with legal capacity, anyone who has Power of Attorney, is a conservator or legal guardian, a spouse, parent, sibling, or grandparent, or a representative payee (individual or organization), in that order of priority.

    Description of plan’s Recertification of ABLE Eligibility Policy. If an account owner is no longer eligible for their CalABLE Account, they simply have to notify the Program of this change.

CalABLE (click to open an account) Phone: 1.833.225.2253