Help my sister Ashley, with A.B.L.E.

Long Story Short

Dearest friends and family,

I’m writing to you from a place of hope—hope to continue taking steps toward a brighter future for my sister, Ashley Copeland Griggs

After years of searching, I’m thrilled to have discovered a new way to help support Ashley, who has struggled with severe mental disabilities since she was a teenager, and is currently physically and mentally unwell. It’s called a 529 ABLE fund (Achieving Better Life Experience), and it’s the best investment I’ve researched due to its tax-free gains. It’s perfect for Ashley because it doesn’t disqualify her from Social Security Income (SSI) and can be spent on basic life expenses.

My plan is to take full advantage of the tax-free gains by treating the fund as a retirement savings, with any gains spent as Ashley’s weekly allowance. There’s a maximum $100k account limit, so it will definitely take time to get there, and the weekly allowance will be about $100 a week, but it’s certainly better than nothing—every little bit helps!

If you’d like some additional background, please read ahead. For anyone with a loved one that struggles to hold a job because of a debilitating disability, I hope you find this useful. And if you feel inspired to contribute, a very heartfelt THANK YOU!

All contributions will be deposited directly into Ashley's ABLE account. Your support would mean the world to me and my family, and especially Ashley!

The Backstory

The 529 ABLE  fund is designed to help people with disabilities invest in their future. Up until now, I’ve held out for California to open CalABLE , but it keeps getting delayed, so I’m shifting gears to a national out-of-state fund called ABLEnow . These are modeled after 529 college funds, which enable you to invest in a child’s future education without getting taxed on the stock growth! Funds from a 529 ABLE account are qualified only to be used for necessary life expenses . 

My darling sister Ashley suffers from  Schizoaffective Disorder, which is a condition like schizophrenia combined with her Bipolar 1 Disorder.  She is often severely depressed and experiences visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions. Treatment is experimental and often ineffective. Recently, doctors have also diagnosed her with PTSD due to early-age trauma. Her worsening condition has caused her to drop out of every school, first in 8th grade and again in 12th grade of high school. She stuck it out to earn her GED, and pushed through college with a few hospital stays to eventually graduate with her psychology degree.

Here’s a brief history of recovery methods she’s tried:

·      Wilderness program
·      Therapeutic boarding school
·      Running away and living on the streets
·      Wellness centers
·      Mental hospitals
·      Neurofeedback brain training
·      Countless doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors

And meds she’s tried: 

·      Previously: Lithium, Depakote, Pindolol, Geodon, Abilify, Cytomel, Ambien, Rozerem, Provigil, Zoloft
·      Currently on: Lithium carbonate, Lamictal, Trazadone, Geodon, Seroquel.

Ashley’s life has been unpredictable, terrifying, and is still very painful. Even so, she aims to hold nothing but love in her heart for every plant, animal, and soul on the planet. More than anything, she wants to be sane and normal so she works at her mental health, always toting a backpack of books, journals, and self-improvement exercises. But her physical health is not good and she is a slave to her medications. She is only mildly functional from 11am to 5pm. She has no plan for financial support, and is unable to build a 401k, IRA, or savings account.
 
As a family, we’re committed to uncovering new ways to support her. My parents used to be very successful entrepreneurs, but multiple setbacks including a freak white-water river accident  and on-going professional support for Ashley have since depleted their retirement savings, leaving them in debt and without any income. Ashley’s partner Glenn is an angel to our family and is there for her every day.  I’ve been helping here and there with rent and expenses but have been given as much financial space as possible for my own growth so I am thankful for that and will always be there for my family when I'm needed.

But it’s time to start looking ahead. 
 
My goal is to max out this ABLE account by investing $15k by Dec 31st every year for the next seven years, bringing it to the $100k account limit. Tax-free gains with a conservative annual stock growth of 5% means Ashley can use $100 a week (from returns alone) until she “retires.” These funds can only be used by Ashley for qualified expenses using a special ABLEnow debit card. Also, the fund will be preserved for at least 20 years of providing weekly allowance before eating into the pot, adding up to another $100k —meaning that EVERY DOLLAR CONTRIBUTION IS WORTH DOUBLE! It’s by far the best investment I could find.

Our plan for the future is to continue evolving her meds to promote daily productivity and health, while working on finding new ways Ashley can give back to the community, possibly with her unique experiences and to connect with others in need.

Please share this with anyone who might be able to help! Your support means the world, and I thank you so much for taking the time to read Ashely’s and our family’s story.

For anyone who has a family member with a disability, here are some links to help you get started on your own path. Feel free to also reach out to me—I’m happy to explain more. 

·      Take the eligibility quiz! 
·      ABLE Program state comparisons 
·      Qualified Disability Expenses 

With deepest love and appreciation,

   -  Ian Copeland Griggs