Treasurer Sprague, Montgomery County Announce STABLE Account Partnership
Effort will make it easier for county employees living with disabilities to save and invest directly from their paychecks
COLUMBUS – Today during a meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and county officials announced a new partnership that will make it easier for county employees to take advantage of STABLE accounts. The measure allows eligible employees to opt-in to have a portion of their paycheck deposited directly into a STABLE account for themselves or a qualifying family member.
“STABLE accounts empower individuals living with disabilities to save and invest for the future without having to fear the loss of critical benefits,” said Treasurer Sprague. “Through this partnership, Montgomery County is taking an important step toward building a more inclusive workplace. Thank you to Montgomery County Treasurer John McManus and the county commissioners for their leadership in providing this important benefit to employees.”
A STABLE account is a specialized savings and investment account for people living with disabilities that allows them to save and invest money without losing eligibility for certain means-tested benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
“I am incredibly thankful to Treasurer Sprague and his team for making financial resources for people with disabilities a priority,” said Montgomery County Treasurer John McManus.” STABLE Accounts are incredible tools that are specifically tailored to benefit people with disabilities who are taking charge of their financial future. It has been a true privilege to be a part of the effort to broaden this program’s usage here in Montgomery County.”
Treasurer Sprague has made it a priority to partner with employers to provide the STABLE Account Payroll Direct Deposit benefit to Ohioans. In 2019, Treasurer Sprague announced a collaboration with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to provide eligible State of Ohio employees with the opportunity to direct a portion of their paychecks into STABLE accounts. In addition, several other public and private sector employers have also partnered with the Treasurer’s office to offer the benefit to employees. With today’s announcement, Montgomery County becomes the eighth Ohio county to provide the payroll direct deposit option to employees.
“STABLE Accounts can be a game-changer in that they can help persons with disabilities to improve their quality of life,” said Montgomery County Commission President Debbie Lieberman. “While these accounts can generate money, they do it without jeopardizing eligibility to public benefit programs like Medicaid and SSI. This makes people better able to handle things like needed home repairs with investment income, while acknowledging that their need for public assistance did not go away.
Since taking office in January 2019, Treasurer Sprague has more than tripled the size of the STABLE Account program, and today, there are more than 37,000 active accounts. Through the program, accountholders can save up to $17,000 each year without jeopardizing federal assistance, and if the accountholder is employed, they can save an additional $13,590 per year.
The STABLE Account program was launched in 2016 following passage of the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. Prior to STABLE accounts, people living with disabilities could only save a total of $2,000 before losing their benefits. Earnings on a STABLE account grow tax-free and are not subject to federal income tax, so long as they are spent on Qualified Disability Expenses. Qualified Disability Expenses include education, housing, transportation, healthcare, assistive technology, basic living expenses, and other items.
For more information about STABLE accounts and to sign up, visit www.stableaccount.com.
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