HR, Payroll and Benefits News

Mid-Year Changes: Healthcare FSA and Dependent Day Care Accounts
May 18, 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group Insurance Board recently approved the following flexibility granted by the IRS for Healthcare FSAs and Dependent Day Care Accounts.

Healthcare FSAs

• Increase annual carryover limit to $1,000 (from $550) from plan year 2020 to plan year 2021
• Add personal protective equipment such as masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes as eligible expenses retroactive to January 1, 2021

Dependent Day Care Accounts

• Increase age limit for qualifying dependent child(ren) to under age 14 (for 2021)
• Add an annual carryover limit of up to $2,500 from plan year 2020 to plan year 2021
• Increase annual contribution limit to up to $10,500 for individuals or married couples filing jointly and $5,250 for married couples filing separately (for 2021)
• Allow a one-time opportunity from June 1- June 30, 2021 for current participants to increase their annual contribution, without a qualifying life event.

Healthcare and Dependent Day Care Account Carryover from 2020 to 2021: No action is necessary on your part to receive the additional healthcare carryover and/or the dependent day care account carryover. If you have funds that are eligible to be carried over, the funds will automatically be applied to your account mid-June.

Questions: For questions about your flexible spending account, contact Optum Financial/ConnectYourCare at 833-881-8158.

For questions on submitting a dependent care change form or your flexible spending account payroll deductions, contact your institution’s benefits office.

Source: UW System Human Resources
Categories: Employee Reimbursement Account