An adult beneficiary with a qualifying disability can open and manage an ABLE account or have an Authorized Legal Representative do it for them.
If a beneficiary is under the age of 18, they must have an Authorized Legal Representative (also known as an ALR) do it for them. An ALR must be able to show Power of Attorney, Legal Guardianship documentation, or be a parent of a beneficiary under the age of 18. (Learn more about the ALR role).
Alternatively, a Social Security Representative Payee who has Power of Attorney can qualify as an ALR and can open an account for an eligible beneficiary. Either way, a beneficiary can only have one ABLE account at a time.