Frank Bartoli, president and CEO of PA Inclusive, left, welcomes, from left, State Sen. Lisa Baker, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and City of Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo to Coffee Inclusive and Bake Inclusive on National ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Savings Day.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
State treasurer, other dignitaries visit Coffee Inclusive in Pittston
PA State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, left, stands next to Coffee Inclusive employee Brian Boston with PA State Sen. Lisa Baker, far left, and City of Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
State Sen. Lisa Baker, left, and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity apply icing to cupcakes made at Bake Inclusive, Pittston. Treasurer Garrity was in town to note National ABLE Savings Day at Coffee Inclusive and Bake Inclusive.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, along with State Sen. Lisa Baker, stopped by Coffee Inclusive to mark National ABLE Savings Day. From left: Frank Bartoli, PA Inclusive president & CEO, Baker, Garrity, City of Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
PITTSTON — In recognition of National ABLE Savings Day, PA State Treasurer Secretary Stacy Garrity stopped by Coffee Inclusive and Bake Inclusive to highlight the PA ABLE program.
Coffee Inclusive and Bake Inclusive are under the umbrella of PA Inclusive, an organization created by President & CEO Frank Bartoli, whose daughter, Ellie, has Down syndrome. Her successful inclusion in school and community life motivated Bartoli to create an organization to help others achieve the same opportunities.
The PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) program accounts are a tax-free way for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and their families, to save without affecting eligibility for important benefits.
Joining Secretary Garrity on the stop were State Sen. Lisa Baker and City of Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo.
“Before PA ABLE, people with disabilities could not save their own money without risking losing entitlements like SSI,” Garrity said. “I’m really proud because Pennsylvania is the fifth-largest ABLE program in the entire nation.”
According to Garrity, there are over 11,000 accounts and people have saved just about $170 million.
ABLE benefits have been extended to those aged 26 to 46, essentially helping six million more people.
Since 2021, annual account maintenance fees have been reduced five times for PA ABLE account owners. Currently, to be eligible to save with an ABLE program, a person’s disability must be onset prior to their 26th birthday.
Starting in January 2026, ABLE eligibility will be expanded to include those whose disability is onset prior to age 46. This gives more than six million more Americans, including one million Veterans the opportunity to save with ABLE programs.
States were authorized to create ABLE programs with the passage of federal ABLE legislation in 2014. PA ABLE was enacted in 2016 with leadership from PA Sen. Lisa Baker; the first PA ABLE account was opened the following year.
Under Secretary Garrity’s leadership, PA ABLE account assets have more than tripled.
PA ABLE account owners can save and pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses, like groceries, rent, healthcare, transportation, and longer-term expenses including education and assistive technology.
The ABLE program offers several different savings and investment options, including a checking account. PA ABLE account owners can contribute up to $19,000 per year and contributions can be deducted on PA state income taxes.
“Starting in this year, legislation passed unanimously that now employers can receive tax incentives for contributing on up to $500, 25% percent to a person’s able account in Pennsylvania is the first day in the entire nation to offer this employer tax credit,” Garrity added.
“We are helping families protect the interests of an individual with disabilities, for their future,” Sen. Baker said. “We’re giving peace of mind for parents to be able to help their child grow in account, and understand what that means for their futures.”
“It was an honor to host Treasurer Garrity at Coffee Inclusive for National ABLE Savings Day and to learn more about improvements coming to ABLE eligibility,” Frank Bartoli said. “As a parent of an adult child with Down syndrome, an ABLE account will allow my daughter, Ellie, to live an even better life.”
To learn more about program eligibility and how to start saving with PA ABLE, visit paable.gov, email info@paable.gov or call 855-529-2253.
