HELPFUL HINT:
Federal regulations strictly prohibit retroactive
enrollment, therefore, you should contact Benefits Administration Services
as soon as you know you will have a change. |
How to Enroll in the
Dependent Care Spending Account Program
Open Enrollment
Each plan year runs from January 1 to December 31. Open enrollment for each
year occurs in November. The exact dates are announced through
payroll inserts or electronic mail.
To enroll in the DCSA Program, you must:
- Examine the information packet which you will receive
within 30 days after you submit your application. In
the packet you will find a confirmation letter, a sample
letter for your provider(s), a memorandum of understanding,
an Authorization for Direct
Deposit, and Withdrawal
Requests. The confirmation letter states the amount
that will be deducted from your paycheck, and the date
the deduction will begin.
New Employees
Within 60 days of becoming a new employee, you may enroll in the Dependent
Care Spending Account Program. However, you may only claim expenses from
the date you enroll, not the date of hire.
Enrollment
Changes
If you experience a family change during the year, you have 60 days to either
enroll in DCSA, discontinue DCSA deductions or change the amount of your deductions,
depending on the type of change you experience. Family and employment status
changes include:
- changing to a different provider or significant changes in cost;
- divorce or marriage;
- birth, adoption or change of legal guardianship
of a child;
- death of your dependent;
- change
in work schedule
of employee
or spouse;
- change
in
employment
status
of
employee
or
spouse;
- child
becomes
13
years
of
age;
- separation
of
employment;
and
- taking
or
returning
from
a
leave
of
absence,
such
as
- Family
Medical
Leave,
- Disability
Leave,
- Workers'
Compensation,
- Military
Leave,
- Educational
Leave,
- Leave
Without
Pay,
or
- Administrative
Leave.
Complete an FSA Enrollment/Change Form and mail to the
address on the form or fax to the fax number on the form.
Leave of Absence
If, as a DCSA participant, you take disability or military leave, you are considered
to be in "no pay" status, even though you may be receiving partial
salary or military pay. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined
that employees in a "no pay" status are not eligible for the program. You
must stop your deposits during that period.
Separation from State Service
Before you separate, you may increase your payroll deduction to maximize
your tax benefit. Please contact Benefits Administration Services
for further information.
If you separate from state employment, your deposits will cease. You may continue
to request withdrawals for dependent care expenses you incur during the plan
year in which you separated as long as:
- there is money in your account; and
- you are still incurring dependent care expenses;
- you are still employed or you are looking for work; and
- you do not submit the claim with your new employer.
This applies whether the expenses were incurred before or after
your separation as long as the expenses were incurred in the same
plan year. The plan year is from January 1 to December 31. It will
be your responsibility to notify your former payroll location and Benefits
Administration Services of any change in address. |
