“We’re going into the guts of the legislative process with a father and a lobbyist who pushed for legislation to help his daughter become more financially independent.”
NPR’s The Indicator: Planet Money took a deep dive with Chip Gerhardt to analyze the ABLE Act. When Anne, Chip and Jane’s daughter, was born with down syndrome, they were shocked to learn that Anne’s options for financial independence were limited. People who receive SSI benefits because of their disability stop receiving benefits if they have more than $2,000 in their savings account. That makes it nearly impossible on SSI benefits to save for college, a down payment on an apartment, or emergencies.
Chip got to work in Congress. and In2014, the ABLE Act was passed and signed into law. Momentum is building as more and more persons with disabilities sign up for ABLE accounts and save for their own financial independence.
Listen to the segment from NPR here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/03/congress-able-act-chip-gerhardt/19855449/
