What type of disabilities qualify for an account?
A qualifying disability includes blindness or a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations. The disability must have developed before the age of 26 and will last, or has lasted, at least a year. Additionally, the disability must meet one of the following categories:
Qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits;
Blindness as determined by the Social Security Act; or
Is included in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments or list of Compassionate Allowances Conditions.*
Some of the conditions recognized by the Social Security Administration include, but are not limited to: hearing loss (deafness), epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, pulmonary fibrosis, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. We recommend you review the Social Security Administration’s lists carefully to ensure the diagnosis meets the criteria.
* CalABLE recommends you seek a signed diagnosis form from a licensed physician if you are not already receiving SSI or SSDI. This is not required to open an account and will not be submitted to CalABLE, but CalABLE suggests you have one on hand for your own record keeping.
