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Qualified Expenses

CalABLE accounts can be used for many different qualified expenses, ranging from education, employment support, housing, transportation, assistive technology and healthcare.

A CalABLE account lets you build up savings that can help you live your best life. Some examples of expenses eligible for payment from a CalABLE account include:

Education

  • Tuition for preschool through post-secondary education

  • Books

  • Supplies and educational materials

  • Computers or other assistive technology

Housing*

  • Rent

  • Purchase of primary home

  • Expenses of primary home

  • Mortgage payments

  • Mortgage insurance if required by lender

  • Property taxes

  • Utility charges

  • Home improvement, changes, maintenance, and repairs

  • Home modifications

*Money you withdraw for housing expenses may affect your SSI benefits if you do not spend it within the same month. To avoid any impact to your SSI benefits, be sure to spend housing money within the same calendar month that you make the withdrawal. 

Transportation

  • Use of mass transit

  • Purchase of vehicle

  • Alteration of vehicle to accommodate a disability

  • Moving expenses

  • Taxis or ride sharing service

Employment Support

  • Cost related to gaining and maintaining employment

  • Job-related training

  • Job coach

  • Employment training

  • Benefits planning

Health, Prevention and Wellness

  • Premiums for health insurance

  • Mental health, medical, vision and dental expenses

  • Habilitation and rehabilitation services

  • Durable medical equipment

  • Therapy

  • Respite care

  • Long-term services and support

  • Nutritional management

  • Personal assistance

Assistive Technology and Personal Support

  • Cost of assistive technology and personal support

  • Communication services and devices

  • Adaptive equipment

Miscellaneous Expenses

  • Financial management and administrative services

  • Legal fees

  • Oversight and monitoring

  • Funeral and burial expenses

Keep track of your expenses

We don’t need to see your receipts, but the IRS might. You should keep documentation of your purchases in case the IRS asks for it, and you must provide proof of how you spent the money from your account (which you can track with your ABLE Visa® Card).

What if I buy something that doesn't qualify?

You’ll have to pay tax on investment earnings, plus a 10% penalty on earnings for non-qualified expenses. Also, keep in mind that any non-eligible withdrawals are considered income for the month and could count against your eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or Medicaid.

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Sign up and start saving

Once you are ready to enroll, you can set up your account here online. When opening a CalABLE account, make sure you have ready identifying information about the beneficiary, the qualifying disability, and how the CalABLE account will be funded.

Create your account

Events

Find out about the upcoming events for CalABLE.

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Still have questions?

You can contact us online, give us a call Monday through Friday, at 1-833-225-2253 from 6am–5pm PT, or you can browse frequently asked questions.

Individuals with speech or hearing disabilities may dial 711 to access Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) from a telephone or TTY.

Go to FAQs

Consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in the California 529A Qualified ABLE Program (CalABLE Program). Please call toll-free 833-Cal-ABLE (833-225-2253) or read our Program Disclosure Statement (PDF) containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

Before investing in any ABLE program, you should consider whether your home state provides its taxpayers with favorable state tax or other benefits that are only available through investment in the home state's ABLE program. You also should consult your financial, tax, or other adviser to learn more about how state-based benefits (or any limitations) would apply to your specific circumstances. You also may wish to directly contact your home state's ABLE program, or any other ABLE program, to learn more about those plans' features, benefits and limitations. State-based benefits should be one of many appropriately weighted factors to be considered when making an investment decision.

The CalABLE Program is offered by the State of California. Vestwell State Savings LLC is the program manager. Vestwell Advisors LLC is the investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

None of the State of California, its agencies, Vestwell State Savings LLC or Vestwell Advisors LLC nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment option, and you may lose the principal amount invested. They also do not provide legal, financial, tax, or investment advice to any individual. The FDIC-Insured Portfolio is FDIC-insured up to $250,000, subject to certain restrictions. Interests in the CalABLE Program are not registered with or in any way approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or by any state securities commission.

The Plan Web site is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any security that may be referenced on the site. Such offer or solicitation can be made only through the Disclosure Statement.

The Plan Web site contains links to other Web sites. Neither the Plan nor Vestwell State Savings LLC and its affiliates are responsible for the content of those other Web sites. The accuracy of information on those sites cannot be confirmed.

The Prepaid Card is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., St. Paul, MN 55103, Member FDIC, pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. This card can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Cardholder Agreement.

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