Who is Eligible?
Individuals with disabilities must meet a few requirements to be eligible for an Account.
You are eligible if:
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The disability was present before the age of 26
AND
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One of the following is true:
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You are eligible for, or you receive, SSI or SSDI because of your disability.
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You experience blindness as determined by the Social Security Act.
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You have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment with marked and severed function limitation that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 continuous months or result in death.
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You have a similarly severe disability with a written diagnosis from a licensed physician that can be produced if requested.
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Your disability is included on the Social Security Administration’s list of Compassionate Allowances Conditions. See SSA.gov/CompassionateAllowances for more information.
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Account Control
Over 18
Eligible Individuals over the age of 18 can open an Account and have complete control if they have the legal capacity to do so. For adults who lack capacity, an Authorized Individual can open and manage the Account on the Eligible Individual’s behalf. The Authorized Individual must certify under penalties of perjury that no other person with a higher priority in the following list is willing or able to act as Authorized Individual.
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Power of Attorney (person or entity)
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Conservator (person or entity)
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Spouse
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Parent
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Sibling
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Grandparent
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Representative payee appointed by the Social Security Administration (person or entity)
Under 18
To establish an account for a minor, a parent or individual with Financial Authority must open the Account. See our Who Can Open an Account? page for more information.
Did you know?
Proof of eligibility is not required to open an Account. You will certify during the enrollment process and recertify annually. You should maintain a record of your diagnosis, benefits verification letter or other relevant documents in the event you are required to prove eligibility at a later date.
