The Basics
People who live with disabilities often have less income and fewer assets than the rest of the population. Living on public benefits programs can make it harder to save money, but there are tools available to help you.
Savings programs like ABLE accounts, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and the career development program Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can help you achieve your goals without risking the public benefits income you live on. You can also take advantage of tax credits and free tax filing help that may save you a lot of money, even if you only have a small amount of taxable income.
ABLE accounts let people who have disabilities that began before they turned 26 keep money in a special tax-advantaged account. The first $100,000 in an ABLE account does not count against the $2,000 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limit, and none of the money in an ABLE account counts for Medi-Cal or CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps).
Learn more
Get Expert Help
SSI and SSDI
1-800-772-1213
How Work Affects SSI and SSDI:
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Call Disability Rights California
1-800-776-5746 -
Call the Ticket to Work Help Line
1-866-968-7842 - Contact a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor
Medi-Cal
- Contact your county social services agency
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Call Disability Rights California
1-800-776-5746 -
Call the Health Consumer Alliance
1-888-804-3536
IHSS
Medicare
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Call Medicare
1-800-633-4227 -
Call the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP)
1-800-434-0222
California SDI
Work Preparation
- Contact your Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) office
- Contact your local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) (One-Stop)
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