Flexible Spending Accounts - Dependent Care

Summary
Best Features
Enrollment Opportunities
Eligibility
Resources
Contact Information

Summary

All benefits-eligible employees may participate in the UT Flex Flexible Spending Accounts.

This plan allows you to set aside money from your pay before taxes are withheld to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as childcare, adult daycare, or nanny expenses. This means you don't pay federal income or Social Security taxes on the money you set aside into these accounts and increases your spendable income.

You may submit receipts for reimbursement after the funds have been placed in your account.

You can contribute up to $5,000 in a flexible dependent care account per calendar year with a minimum election of $15 per month. If you are married and filing separate income tax returns, the maximum calendar election is $2,500.

Best Features

Express Claims ensures your claims are processed within 3 hours.
You may choose direct deposit for quicker reimbursements.

Enrollment Opportunities

Based on federal law, employees may make changes to their benefits only at the times specified below.

At Hire

Within 31 days of hire, benefits eligible employees may add or change benefits.

Moving to a Benefits Eligible Position

Employees moving to a non-benefits eligible position to a benefits eligible position have 31 days from this change in status to complete their benefits enrollment.

At Annual Enrollment

Benefits eligible employees may make any changes to their benefits once a year, without a change of status during annual enrollment, which usually occurs each July.

Family Status Change

Certain events in your family or changes in your dependent’s employment or coverage may enable you to make changes to your benefits outside of annual enrollment. These events, known as Family Status Changes or qualifying events, allow changes to benefits that are consistent the event. (Ex: add medical coverage to your newborn child.)

Benefit changes and supporting documentation must be received by myHR within 31 days of the event. Learn more about these qualifying events and required dependent documentation.

Eligibility

Full and Part-time Employees

Both full and part-time employees can participate. You are eligible for this plan if:

You work at least 20 hours per week, and
Your appointment is expected to continue for at least 4 ½ months, and
You are not currently covered by another state-sponsored medical insurance plan.

Dependents & Required Documentation

You are eligible to cover expenses for those who are considered as dependents for federal income taxes. These dependents do not have to be covered on any of your insurance plans. Learn more about documentation required to cover your dependents.