Trump Accounts, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are tax-advantaged accounts for children under 18. For most families they’re a simple way to save. For families of a child with a disability, they come with a hidden risk that advisors need to understand.
Trump Account balances don’t count against SSI’s asset limit while the child is a minor, but the entire value counts starting on the child’s 18th birthday. Exceeding the limit can affect more than the SSI check. Eligibility for Medicaid and community-based support services can also be linked to SSI status. There is a fix, but the window is narrow. During the calendar year the child turns 17, the entire balance can be moved directly into an eligible ABLE account, and that rollover is available only during that year. Very few families are positioned to use it. Only about 246,000 ABLE accounts have been set up so far.
In this session, Kristin Carleton explains how Trump Accounts fit into a special needs plan, and how advisors can help families protect benefits while still building savings.
You’ll learn:
- How Trump Accounts work, and how they change when the child turns 18
- How Trump Account assets affect SSI and Medicaid eligibility
- How to use the age-17 ABLE rollover, including how it counts toward the annual ABLE contribution limit
- How Trump Accounts fit with ABLE accounts, special needs trusts and other planning tools
- What to discuss with families now, long before the age-17 deadline
