Dear Colleagues,
UUP received word from the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) that the grace period for the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) 2020 plan year has been extended. This is a change that UUP and other state employee unions pressed for in an April meeting with GOER representatives.
The current grace period ended March 31, 2021. Employees can now submit claims for expenses incurred between January 1, 2020 – September 15, 2021 for reimbursement from their 2020 DCAA. The grace period will temporarily expand the ability for employees to utilize any unused amounts in their 2020 DCAA that would normally be forfeited at the end of a plan year. The grace period is applicable for the DCAA only, as long as the employee had a DCAA as of December 31, 2020.
Employees also can seek reimbursement for children who turned 13 during the 2020 plan year from their 2020 DCAA.
The last day to submit DCAA claims is September 30, 2021 for expenses incurred through September 15, 2021.
GOER sent an email notifying all employees with a remaining 2020 DCAA balance. Employees can e-mail fsa@goer.ny.gov or call WageWorks/Health Equity at 1-800-358-7202 with any questions about the grace period. Visit https://goer.ny.gov/dependent-care-advantage-account to access the IRS guidelines of covered services.
In Solidarity,
Ken Kern
Chapter President
UUP Buffalo Center