Expanding Financial Literacy and Empowerment: Increasing Awareness and Use of ABLE Accounts for Americans with Disabilities

The Expanding Financial Literacy and Empowerment: Increasing Awareness and Use of ABLE Accounts for Americans with Disabilities grant is a federally funded initiative issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The grant operates under the authority of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and falls within the framework of the Projects of National Significance (PNS). This initiative is rooted in the federal government’s long-standing commitment to supporting the economic empowerment and social integration of individuals with developmental disabilities, aligning with broader goals of inclusivity, equity, and self-sufficiency. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to significantly increase the awareness, accessibility, and utilization of ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts by individuals with disabilities. ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings tools created under the ABLE Act of 2014, enabling eligible individuals to save and invest money without jeopardizing eligibility for federal means-tested benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These accounts are specifically designed to cover a wide range of qualified disability-related expenses including education, housing, transportation, employment training, assistive technology, and health care. With a recent expansion effective January 2026, eligibility criteria for ABLE accounts have broadened to include individuals whose disability onset occurred before age 46—an increase from the previous age cutoff of 26. This expansion makes an estimated 14 million Americans, including 1.2 million veterans, eligible for ABLE accounts. In light of this expanded eligibility, the grant will support national, state, and community-level outreach and technical assistance strategies. Funded projects are expected to develop and implement coordinated marketing campaigns to raise awareness of ABLE accounts and provide targeted interventions to underserved populations. This includes partnerships with existing ACL grantees and community-based organizations that serve individuals with disabilities. Additional emphasis is placed on reaching individuals who may not be currently enrolled in disability benefits programs but are nonetheless eligible for ABLE accounts. The overarching aim is to increase economic security, improve health outcomes, and foster long-term financial planning among individuals with disabilities. The grant will fund one cooperative agreement with an estimated total program funding of $1,500,000. The expected funding range for a successful applicant is between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Funding recipients must be public or private nonprofit entities that align with the provisions of Section 162 of the DD Act of 2000. Eligible applicants include a wide range of governmental and nonprofit organizations, including state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, institutions of higher education, school districts, and public housing authorities. Applications are expected to be submitted by June 22, 2026, following an estimated posting date of April 22, 2026. The estimated award notification will occur by August 28, 2026, with funded projects beginning on September 1, 2026. As of the current analysis date, this is a forecasted opportunity and not yet open for applications. There is no pre-application or concept paper requirement noted in the forecasted details. Contact for this funding opportunity is David Jones, available by phone at 202-795-7367. Additional information and updates will be available via the Administration for Community Living’s grants page at https://acl.gov/grants/open-opportunities. No PDF of the NOFO or application materials is currently posted, as this is a forecasted notice. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the ACL website for the official NOFO and complete application instructions when the funding opportunity becomes live.