Disabled adult son no longer on SSI - are $2000 asset limits gone and is ABLE account still needed?

Yes, what the SSA told you is accurate. The $2,000 asset limit only applies to SSI (Supplemental Security Income), not to SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or DAC (Disabled Adult Child) benefits. When your son was receiving SSI, he was subject to those restrictions, but now that he's only receiving the Social Security disability benefit as a DAC on your husband's record, those asset restrictions no longer apply. However, I would caution you about the special needs trust and ABLE account. While they're not necessary for maintaining his Social Security benefits, they might still be important if he might need means-tested government programs in the future. Without Medicaid, how will his healthcare needs be covered?

when my daughter went from SSI to just regular disability we put all her money in a normal bank account. SSA said it was fine. she has like $4500 saved up now and nobody has said anything. the $2000 thing is just for SSI

I went through something very similar with my brother last year. It's true that the $2,000 asset limit no longer applies when someone is only receiving SSDI/DAC benefits. However, I STRONGLY recommend keeping the special needs trust AND setting up that ABLE account anyway. Here's why: 1. If his SSDI payment is low, he might need to reapply for SSI in the future 2. There are other means-tested programs besides Medicaid that he might need (food assistance, housing subsidies, etc.) 3. The ABLE account gives tax advantages for saving for disability-related expenses Regarding Medicaid - this is a huge loss. As someone mentioned, he'll get Medicare after 24 months on SSDI, but that has co-pays and doesn't cover everything Medicaid does. Some states have Medicaid buy-in programs for working people with disabilities, even if they're over income/asset limits for regular Medicaid. Might be worth checking if your state has this option.

The SSA agent is right about the asset limits, but WRONG about what you should do!!!! I've seen this EXACT situation before and people make HUGE mistakes by dismantling their financial protections too quickly. SSI has the $2000 limit, SSDI doesn't. BUT here's what they don't tell you - if his SSDI benefit is less than the SSI federal benefit rate+state supplement (if any), he might still be eligible for SOME SSI, which means he'd STILL be subject to the asset limit!!! Also, losing Medicaid is a MASSIVE problem that most people don't fully understand until it's too late. Call your local Medicaid office IMMEDIATELY! In many states, there are pathways to Medicaid that don't involve SSI. Don't assume the SSA knows about these - they often DON'T!

You might want to try Claimyr to get through to a Social Security agent directly to confirm all these details. I had similar questions when my daughter transitioned from SSI to SSDI, and I kept getting different answers from different people. I used claimyr.com to get through to SSA without waiting on hold for hours, and they scheduled a call back within 1 hour. They have a video explaining how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Getting official confirmation from SSA in writing about the asset limits was crucial for our peace of mind. I'd also recommend asking specifically about your son's eligibility for any SSI at all, and get written clarification about his Medicaid status.

congrats on not having to deal with the $2000 limit anymore! that rule made life so stressful for us for years. every birthday and christmas was a nightmare trying to make sure relatives didnt give too much money. wish the government would update that ridiculous limit!

Wait I'm confused about something - is SSDI the same as disabled adult child benefits? My son gets disability benefits on his dad's record but we were told those ARE affected by assets. Now I'm worried we've been given wrong info.

about the medicaid thing my sister lost medicaid when she got more ssdi but then 2 months later got medicare. she said medicare works at most doctors now so maybe its not as bad as you think??

One thing no one has mentioned - you should check if your state has a "Medicaid spend-down" program (sometimes called Medically Needy). This allows people with higher incomes to qualify for Medicaid if they have high medical expenses. Essentially, you "spend down" your income to the eligibility level by incurring medical expenses. This might be an option during the Medicare waiting period. Regarding the ABLE account, even without SSI asset restrictions, it still provides tax advantages that a regular savings account doesn't. Earnings grow tax-free when used for qualified disability expenses. Think of it like a 529 college savings plan, but for disability expenses.