Two Brothers Learn the Power of Saving with ABLE TN Accounts

By Jamie Page, TN Department of Treasury
A man with a medium skin tone and short black hair is standing outside next to a red SUV. He is wearing a black t-shirt with a white graphic and blue jeans. He has one hand resting on the hood of the car and is looking at the camera. In the background, there are houses with trees around them, and a few other vehicles are parked nearby.
Caleb enjoys driving his red 2023 KIA Seltos. He used his ABLE TN account last year for the down payment and paid off his new ride in the same year with savings from his account.

Caleb and David Buback, of Jackson, paid off their cars the same year they bought them, purchased a home, and continue to save for their future. They credit these accomplishments to their ABLE TN accounts.

About ABLE TN

ABLE TN is Tennessee’s Achieving a Better Life Experience program. It helps residents with disabilities save and invest money without risking their federal benefits. This program supports people in maintaining their independence and quality of life.

Meet Caleb and David

Caleb and David are 26-year-old identical twins, with schizoaffective disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Their disabilities look different for each of them. Caleb tends to experience manic episodes, while David struggles with depression, said their mother, Barbara Buback. Their disabilities have certainly not held them back.

From High School to Career

The twins began working in 2019, while still living with their parents. Caleb worked as a sterile processing technician for West Tennessee Healthcare North Hospital, where he cleaned and sterilized surgical instruments. David worked at a Starbucks inside Jackson Madison County General Hospital, preparing coffee drinks. They were able to get these jobs with the help of Project SEARCH, a program offered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Project SEARCH helps students with intellectual and developmental disabilities transition from high school into employment through internships at community businesses. West Tennessee Healthcare is one of 17 Project SEARCH programs across the state.

Two men with medium skin tones are in a kitchen. The man on the left, with short black hair, is facing away, pouring coffee grounds into a copper coffee maker. He is wearing a black t-shirt with a white graphic. The man on the right, wearing a tie-dye t-shirt with a mountain design and navy shorts, is standing slightly behind him, gesturing with one finger raised as if making a point. The kitchen has light green walls, wooden cabinets, and tiled floors, with a doorway leading to a dining area visible in the background.
Caleb, who enjoys cooking and homemaking, makes coffee while talking with David in their kitchen in their Jackson home.

“Initially, when a special needs child goes to work, they are really in hog heaven because they want to spend all their money,” said Barbara, who wanted to gently guide her sons toward saving instead.

The first challenge was figuring out how they would save money without impacting their disability benefits. The twins receive independent living assistance benefits through TennCare’s Employment and Community First CHOICES Program. The program limits them to having up to $2,000 in assets, such as bank accounts or life insurance. However, they can save up to $100,000 in an ABLE account without impacting most federal benefits. (A primary residence and one vehicle are also allowed under ECF CHOICES without affecting benefits.)

Discovering ABLE TN

Barbara’s other focus was helping her sons become independent and plan for their long-term future. In 2019, she discovered ABLETN.gov after doing some online research. She enrolled Caleb and David by completing the applications, as well as submitting the required documentation. “I discovered they could use an ABLE account to save their money for things like food, clothing, houses and cars,” Barbara explained. “The next step was convincing my children they needed this account. I helped them choose an amount to save and then they could see it grow … not only what they put in, but there was more than what they put in, because the money is invested. They were very excited about that.”

Four people are seated around a wooden table playing a card game. On the left, a man with a light skin tone, gray hair, and a beard is wearing a light t-shirt and khaki shorts. Next to him, a man with a medium skin tone and black hair wears a black graphic t-shirt. Across the table, an older woman with a light skin tone and blonde hair is in a colorful striped blouse. On the right, a man with a medium skin tone and brown hair wears a tie-dye t-shirt. All are focused on their cards.
Caleb and David Buback play cards at their house with their parents, Michael and Barbara Buback, a pastime they both enjoy.

Barbara initially encouraged them to save $100, then $200, until eventually, they were setting aside as much as $1,000 a month in their ABLE TN accounts. David and Caleb give their mom full credit for opening the account and getting them started on their savings journey.

“When my mom first introduced the ABLE account to me, I was a little skeptical,” David admitted. “I didn’t think I was going to have enough to get the things I wanted at the time. As I started putting money away and it started to build, I was like, this is cool. We should keep at it. Maybe I’ll get a bunch of it back at some point and I can buy something I really want in the future.”

That’s exactly what happened. In early 2023, their dad, Michael Buback, took Caleb and David to look at cars. Caleb used his earnings saved in his ABLE TN account for a down payment to buy a 2023 KIA Seltos. David used his saved earnings to order a 2023 KIA Soul right from the factory. Later that same year, the brothers paid off their vehicles using their ABLE TN savings.

Last fall, they saw their ABLE TN accounts pay off again when their dad asked if they wanted to go look at houses. With help from their parents and a realtor, they found a home that suited their needs. In November 2023, they used their ABLE TN accounts to make the down payment and purchase the home. They have been living together ever since.

“I couldn't have done it without the ABLE account,” Caleb said. “I didn't have much experience at the time with saving. The ABLE account made me very perceptive to managing my money skills. I would say I was a compulsive shopper, and ABLE has made me less compulsive. I now think about where I'm putting the money and how I'm spending it.”

A man with a medium skin tone and short brown hair is standing in a garage next to a dark gray compact SUV. He is wearing a tie-dye t-shirt with a mountain design, navy shorts, and white socks. He stands with his hands behind his back, looking toward the camera.
David stands proudly with his 2023 KIA Soul he ordered from the factory in late 2022 and purchased with his ABLE TN account.

Since then, both brothers have advanced in their careers. David is now a Charge System Analyst, and is responsible for distributing medical products across the West Tennessee Healthcare system. Caleb works as a Laundry Tech, and is responsible for folding, sorting, and transporting linens all over the hospital. They’re earning more money, and each speak of having clear vision of how they will save for their future needs.

“I would say people should definitely consider an ABLE account, because it is how we made it this far,” David said. “We have a good support system, but we also have a safety net that allows us to live comfortably. It gives us purpose to achieve these things. We have achieved adulthood because of ABLE.”

“An ABLE account is probably one of the best decisions I've made in my life,” Caleb said. “I think I'm going to be using it my entire life. It keeps both of us financially stable, and especially in a worst-case scenario, if something happens.”

Barbara emphasized the importance of pairing an ABLE account with guidance on money management and setting a good example.

A man with a medium skin tone and short brown hair is standing in a room, pointing at a series of colorful, abstract paintings on the wall. He is wearing a tie-dye t-shirt featuring a dark mountain landscape design. The room has light green walls, and there is a doorway leading to a kitchen in the background.
David talks about his inspiration for his artwork that hangs on the wall in the twins’ living room. David creates a unique form of drawing combined with digital art, with symbolism primarily focused on mental illness, Christianity, and everyday situations. He has sold several pieces, and his art has been displayed at the hospital where he works, and at The Ned Cultural Arts Center in Jackson.

“For caregivers, it's important that we model savings. So, we need to show them that we're doing it, and then teach them the importance,” she said. “The most important thing that ABLE account has done for my boys, is has made them independent. They're not relying on me. They're not relying on the state. They're relying on their money that they've saved.”

If they ever have questions, the Bubacks know they can always reach out at ABLE.TN@tn.gov or by calling (855) 922-5386.

Jamie Page is the Assistant Director of Communications for the Tennessee Department of Treasury, which administers ABLE TN. In his role, Jamie works to educate the public on the many resources available through Treasury programs.