Changes Coming to Your PA ABLE Account

This transition will improve PA ABLE accounts by offering lower fees, access to more modern technology, and much more. Vestwell was selected to be PA ABLE’s program manager starting July 28, 2026.

The PA ABLE Savings Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department who partners with a program manager to perform functions related to the day-to-day management of PA ABLE accounts.

The program manager, Vestwell, recommends investment portfolios, manages PA ABLE’s customer service call center, and runs the PA ABLE online account platform that supports your savings and financial transactions.

Vestwell is a financial technology company that powers savings programs for individuals and businesses, including ABLE programs, 529 education savings plans, IRAs, 401(k) plans, and more.

Vestwell is the largest ABLE provider in the country. Vestwell’s technology makes it easier for families to access ABLE savings, offering a mobile app, a multilingual account platform available in 20 languages, caregiver management tools, and direct educational resources.

The PA ABLE transition to Vestwell is scheduled to finish on July 28, 2026. Leading up to the transition, access to your account will be paused for a brief blackout period, beginning at 4pm on July 23, 2026, and ending on July 28, 2026.

The timeline for this expected pause in account access and any actions you may need to take during the weeks leading up to the transition are available above and in the Plan Communications section of this page.

Yes, fees are decreasing!

Currently, PA ABLE savers pay $31 or $56 per year for account management, depending on the delivery option they have selected, as well as asset-based fees of up to 0.34% depending on which investment options are chosen.

After the transition, you will only pay $17 a year when signed up for e-delivery of plan documents ($37 a year if paper delivery is selected). Plus, asset-based fees will only be up to 0.25% of your balance. This will make PA ABLE much more affordable for savers.

Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition for your account.

Once the transition has finished, you will need to take a few steps to access your account on the Vestwell system. For most account owners, this will be as simple as creating a new login and password and verifying your identity.

You will receive step-by-step instructions starting in mid-June and again after the transition is complete. These instructions will explain how to access your new account, new features to expect, and more. Please watch for these important instructions and check this page regularly for additional information. You can also find all correspondence about the transition in the Plan Communications section of this page.

Please be sure your contact information is up to date in your account settings.

During the transition, we will simply move your funds from your current investment options to comparable new investment options. As we get closer to the transition, you will receive more detailed information about the investment options to which your funds are being moved.

If you would like to select different investment options, you can easily move your funds after the transition using one of your two annual fund changes.

With the transition, PA ABLE will be offering seven risk-based investment options, developed to closely align with the investment options that are currently available, and nine new target-year investment options. The new target-year investment options offer the ability to easily select an investment based on when you anticipate using the funds.

PA ABLE’s new investment line-up will offer mutual funds from Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab. The most conservative investment, the “Capital Preservation” portfolio, will replace the current Checking Account and Money Market Options. It provides a guaranteed rate of return, and (unlike the current Checking Account Option and debit card) will be available for organizations (for-profits, non-profits, and government agencies) to use.

We will send you details and step-by-step instructions in the weeks leading up to the July transition. We will also provide updates and information regularly on this page.

You will also receive communications during the week of transition and after it is complete.

These communications will explain how to access your account, outline new account features, and give tips on navigating the new portal and using common functions.

As part of the transition, the PA ABLE Checking Account Option and debit card will be discontinued. Starting July 1, 2026, you will no longer be able to use the PA ABLE Fifth Third debit card. It is being replaced with a more flexible, easy-to-use, customizable and reloadable prepaid card.

Specific information will be sent to all PA ABLE account owners using the Checking Account Option and Fifth Third debit cards.

As part of the transition, the current PA ABLE debit card program will be discontinued.

Once the transition is complete, you will be able to request a new, customizable, and reloadable prepaid card online. PA ABLE prepaid cards are reloadable and free, and will also be available to organizations, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. PA ABLE prepaid cards are reloadable and offer a host of updated features, including a mobile app, the ability to set custom spending limits, the ability to restrict certain stores or transaction types, note-taking and receipt upload features, and the flexibility to order multiple cards for you and a caregiver. More details will be provided leading up to this transition.