This webinar was recorded as part of a monthly series hosted by the Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) Team. The series explores a wide range of topics, from tools to support school-aged children with disabilities to resources that help adults navigate employment and public benefits. Each session is guided by direct feedback from community partners, ensuring the webinars address the issues they consider most important. This series will be hosted through 2026. See our upcoming events and register here.

Watch the Event

Watch this event in Spanish

About the webinar:

All About CalAble Accounts

CalABLE (California Achieving a Better Life Experience) is a tax-advantaged savings and investment program for individuals with disabilities. It allows eligible individuals to save money for disability-related expenses without losing access to public benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medi-Cal. What you’ll learn in this training:  

• What is the ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, the federal law authorizing states to establish ABLE programs in their respective states;
• Who is eligible to open a CalABLE account, California’s version of ABLE accounts; 
• How to open and manage a CalABLE account; 
• What counts as qualified disability expenses; 
• How CalABLE helps you save beyond the $2,000 asset limit for SSI; 
• The tax benefits of CalABLE (tax-deferred growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified disability expenses); and 
• How CalABLE supports financial independence for children and adults with disabilities.

Resources:

Presentation

All About CalAble Accounts (.pdf)

ABLE National Resource Center

• Main Website
• State ABLE Program Overview
• State ABLE Program Comparison Tool
• Sample Certification of Disability (Available Upon Request)

CalABLE

• Main Website
• CalABLE Overview
• Vestwell CalABLE Registration Page (Open a CalABLE Account)
• Savings and Investment Options
• Enrollment Brochure
• Fact Sheet for Parents or Legal Guardians
• What If I Want to Close My Account?
• Death of Beneficiary Form
• Eligibility Screener
• Program Disclosure Statement
• 2026 Ambassadors
• 2026 Ambassador Videos (YouTube)
• Email General Inquiries: calable@treasurer.ca.gov
• Phone Number: 1-833-225-2253
  • Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform

• Medi-Cal Recovery Information

California Legislative Information

• California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4880

Disability Rights California (DRC)

• Intake Line: 1-800-776-5746
  • TTY: 1-800-719-5798
  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Online Request Form

Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) for Regional Center Clients:

• Intake Line: 1-800-390-7032

Panelists:

Maria Iriarte is a Senior Attorney for Disability Rights California, Her expertise is in the area of public benefits. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University Long Beach and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School.

Raymond Kwong (he, him) works at Disability Rights California (DRC) as an Advocate with the Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) team. He joined DRC 9 years ago as a Multicultural Affairs Advocate. He works with attorneys to facilitate trainings, legal clinics, and outreach to the disabled community.