ILLINOIS – Illinois is making it possible for thousands more people with disabilities to set aside money for their needs without losing critical federal benefits.

A new rule, announced this week by State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, raises the eligibility age so that anyone whose disability began before age 47 can now open an ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) savings account.

The change nearly doubles the number of Illinois residents who can use the program, which lets people with disabilities save and invest money tax-free for qualified expenses. 

Frerichs called the expansion a “game changer,” estimating that 250,000 additional Illinoisans and about 6 million people nationwide now qualify. 

“We’re happy to report that ABLE accounts are now available to anyone who acquired their disability before age 46, and I think this is a game changer for a lot of people,” Frerichs said.

Until this expansion, ABLE accounts were only available to people who acquired a disability before age 26. That restriction left out veterans, accident survivors, and people diagnosed with disabling conditions later in life. The new rule took effect this year after Congress responded to calls from Illinois advocates and families to expand access.

How ABLE accounts work:

An ABLE account functions much like a 529 college savings account. Account holders, friends, and family can contribute cash, which is then invested. The money grows tax-free as long as it is used for disability-related expenses such as housing, transportation, assistive technology, or education. Illinois also offers a state income tax deduction for contributions.

Before ABLE accounts, people with disabilities who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid faced strict asset limits. Having more than $2,000 in savings could mean losing those benefits. 

“This created a lot of anxiety for families who were preparing,” Frerichs said. “There’s a lot of fear for people who wanted to go out and work. What would happen if my paycheck put me over that threshold? Well, ABLE is the answer.”

The program allows up to $100,000 in savings without affecting federal benefits. Earnings and withdrawals remain tax-free if used for qualified expenses.

Real-life impact:

Frerichs shared stories from families who had to make difficult choices before ABLE accounts existed. 

“I talked to parents who had to tell their children’s employer don’t give my kid a raise,” he said. “I’ve talked to parents who talked with their financial advisors, saying, don’t name your child in your will. We created a system that put parents in horrible positions, but now we have a solution that allows them to do more long-term planning and to truly set their kids up for a better life experience.”

Stephanie Cantor, director of the Illinois ABLE program, said the expansion lets her and thousands like her save for expenses that come with disability. 

“Living with a disability just costs more, and it makes me think of all the ways an ABLE account could have been useful to me over the years to be able to save money and pay for these expenses,” Cantor said.

What’s next:

Illinois has about 8,500 ABLE account holders who have saved $121 million so far. The state treasurer’s office encourages anyone who thinks they may qualify to learn more and apply at illinoisable.com.

The Indiana Pacers are making a real argument to be the worst team in the NBA this season.

The Pacers could become the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach 50 losses this season if they don’t beat the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night. Power rankings across the internet have the Pacers and Kings as the bottom two teams in the league.

NBA.com, John Schuhmann (30, no change)

“With the Jazz beating the Wizards on Thursday and the Nets’ incredible comeback in Detroit over the weekend, the Pacers are the only team without a win (they’re 0-9) since the All-Star break. Seven of those nine losses have come against other teams with losing records,” Schuhmann wrote.

“The Pacers and Kings are now tied for the fewest wins (15), and they’ll meet for the second (and final) time on Tuesday, with the Pacers having won the first meeting (Dec. 8) behind 28 points and 12 assists from Nembhard. That’s the end of the Pacers’ four-game trip, and they’ll then return home and begin their only stretch of five games in seven days.”

The Athletic, Law Murray (30, no change)

“The Pacers are the only team in the league without a win since the All-Star break, so they’re comfortably nestled at the bottom of these rankings. Indiana was only regular bad for the third quarter of the season overall, though the interior defense has been slammed like brakes,” Murray wrote.

“If they don’t win Tuesday in Sacramento in the Tyrese Haliburton trade bowl, then they’ll have to go and upset a team that is trying to secure wins for the rest of the March schedule.”

Clutch Points, Brett Siegel (29, down 1)

“As soon as Tyrese Haliburton went down with his Achilles injury, everyone knew that the Indiana Pacers would be taking a step back. The decision for this to be a gap year and completely tank was made after several impactful players, like Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard, all went down with injuries,” Siegel wrote.

“After all, a team that found success through its depth is nothing when all of its key talents are injured.

“The Pacers own the second-worst record in the NBA right now, giving them a real shot at getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Remember, Indiana will keep their selection this season if it falls inside the top four, which have a 52.1 percent chance of happening.”

Overview

It’s hard to argue the Pacers not being in this position because they’ve only won 15 games so far this season. On top of that, their last victory came on February 11, which was the final game before the All-Star break.

This isn’t exactly a bad thing for the Pacers, however, because they need that first-round pick to return to them in the draft. If they get the wrong shake in the lottery, the Pacers could be forced to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.

The Pacers should use the rest of the season to figure out who fits in their system and develop their young players in hopes of some of them cracking the rotation for next season and beyond.

The ECHL announced today that the League’s Board of Governors has approved the request of the Iowa Heartlanders’ Membership for a Voluntary Suspension for the 2026-27 Season.

During the suspension period, the organization will evaluate strategic alternatives aimed at ensuring a sustainable long-term future for professional hockey in the Corridor, including potential investment or ownership partnerships that support the continued success of the Membership.
 
The ECHL will continue to work with the Heartlanders’ ownership group during the suspension period as the organization evaluates its future. The League remains committed to the continued growth and stability of its member teams and markets.
 
“This was an incredibly difficult decision that followed months of careful evaluation,” said Heartlanders owner Michael Devlin. “Despite significant efforts to stabilize and strengthen the organization, we concluded that stepping back for a season is the most responsible course while we review long-term solutions. As stewards of the team, we believe this step gives the organization the best opportunity to return on a stronger and more sustainable footing.”

“We worked through every potential path that might have allowed us to continue uninterrupted,” Heartlanders President Matt Getz said. “Ultimately, we believe this pause provides the organization the best opportunity to position the Membership for long-term success.”

The Iowa organization expresses deep gratitude to the fans, partners, players, staff and the City of Coralville who have supported the Heartlanders since the team’s founding.
 
The ECHL will play with 30 Members during the 2026-27 season.
 
About the ECHL
 
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 38th season in 2025-26. There have been 778 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 10 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.