Casey Unveils Bipartisan Bill to Help Individuals with Disabilities Save Money for Care

County-By-County Report Shows Nearly 17,000 PA Children Diagnosed with Autism; Bill Would Help Individuals with Many Other Disabilities   

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today unveiled legislation that could help thousands of individuals with disabilities across Pennsylvania save for their long term care. Under his bill, the ABLE Act, parents of children with a disability could set up tax advantaged savings accounts to help provide for their long term care. For example, nearly 17,000 children across the Pennsylvania impacted by autism could be helped by the passage of this bill.

“Parents of children with disabilities face struggles on a daily basis that we can’t even begin to imagine,” said Senator Casey. “This legislation will help make it easier for those families to save for their care and for their future. It will provide families with the financial peace of mind they need.”

The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2011 (ABLE Act) will allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save money and cover expenses such as education, medical and dental care, community support services, employment training and support, moving and assistive technology, housing and transportation.  

Under current law, many individuals with disabilities are forced to divest of all of their assets in order to qualify for health care under Medicaid. This requirement effectively impoverishes these individuals and prevents them and their families from building and using savings to meet expenses. 

The ABLE Act would authorize a new type of 529 College Savings Account to be created by an individual for themselves or a beneficiary to save for future costs related to a disability.  ABLE Accounts would be available to individuals eligible to receive supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. 

Anyone may contribute to an ABLE account under the proposal. The principle in the account would accrue interest tax-free during the life of the beneficiary.  When distributions are made to the beneficiary for qualified expenses, the distributions are excludable from the gross income of the beneficiary. 

All across the Pennsylvania, children with disabilities could be aided by passage of this bill. Below is a regional breakdown of the number of individuals diagnosed with autism in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, there are 16,911 children who have been diagnosed with autism, just one disorder that the ABLE Act would address.

• In Central Pennsylvania 1,263 children have been diagnosed with autism.
• In the Erie region 1,154 children have been diagnosed with autism.
• In the Harrisburg region 2,614 children have been diagnosed with autism.
• In Lehigh Valley 1,597 children have been diagnosed with autism.
• In Northeastern Pennsylvania 1,781 children have been diagnosed with autism.
• In the Philadelphia region Pennsylvania 4,902 children have been diagnosed with autism.
• In the Pittsburgh region 4,254 children have been diagnosed with autism.

Senator Casey today called on Congress to pass this bipartisan bill right away to aid children and families in Pennsylvania and across the country.  The ABLE Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC). U.S. Representative Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) today introduced companion legislation in the House.

Cases of autism in Pennsylvania by county:

Pennsylvania Statewide

Central Region

Erie Region

Harrisburg Region

Lehigh Valley Region

Northeast Region

Philadelphia Region

Pittsburgh Region

Methodology

Statistics on autism incidences in Pennsylvania were provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

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