Expanding Financial Literacy and Empowerment: Increasing Awareness and Use of ABLE Accounts for Americans with Disabilities
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- HHS-2026-ACL-AOD-DFLA-0025
- Agency
-
Administration for Community Living
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,000,000 to $1,200,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Income Security and Social Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- County Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Independent School Districts
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- State Governments
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- City/Township Governments
- Special District Governments
- Points of contact
-
- David Jones david.jones@acl.hhs.gov (202) 795-7367
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Administration for Community Living is soliciting cooperative agreement applications to expand awareness, access, and use of ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts for Americans with disabilities, with applications due August 3, 2026. No cost share is required.
Eligible applicants include county governments, state governments, city and township governments, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations not federally recognized, public and private higher education institutions, independent school districts, public or Indian housing authorities, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits. One award is expected in the range of $1,000,000 to $1,200,000 per budget period over a three-year performance period from September 30, 2026 to September 29, 2029, with total program funding estimated at $3,000,000.
The grant is funded under Projects of National Significance (CFDA 93.631) authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. The initiative responds to low ABLE account enrollment—fewer than 3 percent of eligible individuals as of December 2025—following January 2026 eligibility expansion to include individuals with disability onset age up to 46, an increase from 26. This expansion makes approximately 14 million people eligible, including approximately 1.2 million veterans. The program targets individuals receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income, as well as those not enrolled in disability benefit programs.
Applicants must implement a coordinated three-pronged national approach: embedding ABLE education at key life decision points with integrated financial literacy; community outreach through trusted networks and train-the-trainer models; and a national marketing campaign using digital and social media platforms. Applicants must establish a National ABLE Advisory Group with meaningful participation from people with disabilities, family members, service providers, and community organizations. Projects must develop standardized materials, provide workforce training, track measurable outcomes, and disseminate toolkits for scaling and replication. An optional notice of intent is due July 15, 2026.
Synopsis
This grant is funded under the Projects of National Significance (PNS) authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. Its purpose is to increase awareness, access, and use of ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts so that individuals with disabilities have the resources needed to better support their health and economic well-being and improve their economic security and mobility. Since 2015, the ABLE Act has authorized states and territories to establish tax-advantaged programs-ABLE accounts-that allow individuals with disabilities to save and invest money. These accounts may be used for qualified disability expenses, including education, food, housing, transportation, employment training, assistive technology, and health care. Beginning in January 2026, ABLE eligibility requirements were expanded to include individuals with an age of disability onset up to 46, increased from the previous limit of 26. As a result, an estimated 14 million people will be eligible for ABLE accounts, including approximately 1.2 million veterans. This expansion presents a significant opportunity to broaden outreach to individuals receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), as well as individuals with disabilities who are not enrolled in disability benefit programs, to help overcome barriers to achieving good health and meaningful employment. To advance these goals, the grant will support strategies such as coordinated marketing efforts at the national, state, and community levels; population-specific approaches implemented through partnerships with ACL grantees and community stakeholders; and a strengthened systems approach at the state level. ACL recognizes that ABLE-related supports can play a critical role in increasing economic security and mobility for individuals with disabilities.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| hhs-2026-acl-aod-dfla-0025.pdf | ||
| hhs-2026-acl-aod-dfla-0025_v1.pdf |
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