NAMI Maine is set to host an online presentation from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, about Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts, now available in Maine.
The presentation is in partnership with Bangor Savings Bank and the Office of the Maine State Treasurer.
Those interested in attending can register at namimaine.org/events/ableme.
ABLE accounts help people with disabilities save money for qualified disability expenses, such as education, housing and transportation, according to a news release from NAMI.
Money saved in an ABLE account does not count as a resource for means-tested public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), MaineCare, SNAP, and subsidized housing.
Representatives of the bank and the treasurer’s office will share information and answer questions about ABLE accounts in Maine.
Teresa Price of North Yarmouth is treasurer of the NAMI Maine Board of Directors and an ABLE National Resource Center ambassador. Her 29-year-old son Logan was 18 and studying biomedical engineering when he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. After a few years of living at home, he qualified for SSI and moved into supportive housing run by Shalom House.
“The ABLE account gives his dad and me peace of mind, knowing that Logan will have funds to support himself if programs are discontinued,” Price said. “He can also save for a car or other large purchases without worrying about being ruled ineligible for SSI.”
For more information about ABLE accounts in Maine, visit bangor.com.
NAMI Maine is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI Maine provides education, support and advocacy to help people and families affected by mental health conditions build better lives.
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