Gardiner touts 'ABLE' program for people with disabilities

Florida Health Care Reform

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Senate President Andy Gardiner, state Rep. Ray Rodrigues and other supporters Thursday touted a new program that will allow many Floridians with disabilities to enroll in tax-free savings and investment accounts without jeopardizing government benefits.

Under Florida's Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, or ABLE, qualified people with disabilities will be allowed to save up to $14,000 a year without the cash impacting their Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid eligibility.

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Before the ABLE Act, people could generally only have $2,000 worth of assets and income of no more than $700 a month to remain qualified for the government benefits.

The program is called ABLE United. For more information, visit www.ableunited.com

Gardiner, whose son has Down syndrome, has made a top priority of programs to help people with disabilities.

He took part in a news conference Thursday at the Capitol that also included Rodrigues, an Estero Republican who has a son with special needs.

"We have now given an opportunity for these individuals to do their best," Rodrigues said. "They are no longer going to be faced with a choice of, 'If I seek independence and I fail, I will lose the safety net.' "


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