2018 Dependent Care Advantage Accounts – New Employer Contribution

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The new 2016-2022 Agreement between UUP and the State includes an employer contribution to Dependent Care Advantage Accounts (DCAA) for UUP-represented employees who are enrolled as DCAAccount participants for the 2018 plan year.

UUP-represented employees (or employees who were represented by UUP at the time they enrolled) who have an active 2018 DCAAccount do not need to do anything. The employer contribution will be deposited into the employee’s DCAAccount with the October 3, 2018 paycheck (for employees on the Administrative payroll – the vast majority of our members) or the October 11, 2018 paycheck (for employees on the Institutional payroll).

Please note that adding the employer contribution to DCAAccounts will not increase the employee’s annual election amount – unless the employee enrolled for less than the employer contribution. In the latter case, the employee’s DCAAccount will be adjusted to reflect the full amount of their employer contribution.

When the employer contribution is added to DCAAccounts, WageWorks will recalculate or stop remaining bi-weekly payroll deductions, as appropriate, to adjust for the addition of the employer contribution. If necessary, OSC will issue a refund of any remaining excess employee deductions with the paychecks of:

  • October 3, 2018 for employees on the Administrative payroll
  • October 11, 2018 for employees on the Institutional payroll

UUP-represented employees who are not enrolled in DCAA but experience a qualifying change in status may enroll by submitting a change in status application. They will be eligible for the employer contribution for the remainder of the 2018 plan year. Here are some examples of change in status events:

  • Marriage
  • Divorce or separation
  • Death (spouse/dependent)
  • Birth or adoption of a child
  • Beginning or end of employment (employee or spouse)
  • Dependent disability
  • From full-time to part-time employment or vice versa (employee or spouse)
  • Beginning of or return from leave of absence (employee or spouse)
  • Change in work schedule (employee or spouse)
  • Change in custody of dependent
  • Change in rate paid (only if the provider is not a relative)
  • Change in care provider
  • Loss of another Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) plan’s coverage (increase or enrollment only)

If an employee was on a leave of absence or terminated their 2018 DCAAccount they will not receive an employer contribution unless the employee re-enrolls due to a qualifying change in status.

UUP-represented employees with questions about their existing 2018 DCAAccounts should call WageWorks customer service at 1-800-358-7202.

Employees who are interested in learning more about enrolling for the remainder of the 2018 plan year, and the change in status rules, may visit www.flexspend.ny.gov or call WageWorks customer service at 1-800-358-7202.

Finally, for employees interested in enrolling in DCAA during the 2019 plan year, the upcoming 2019 open enrollment period will run from October 9, 2018 through November 9, 2018.

In Solidarity, Fred