COMMUTER BENEFITS PROGRAM

Commuter Benefits Program Pre-Tax Benefit Increase, MTA Fare Increase and $1.00 MetroCard Fee

The City of New York implemented updates to the Commuter Benefits Program plans for all payrolls dated February 1, 2013 and after as follows:

1. The Transportation Fringe Benefit Monthly Pre-Tax Limit increased from $125 per month to $245 per month.  Employees with deduction amounts of more than $125 per month will see a decrease in their taxable earnings.  Employees with payroll deductions that are $125 per month or less will not be affected by this change.

2. The Parking Fringe Benefit Monthly Pre-Tax Limit increased from $240 per month to $245 per month.  Employees with deduction amounts of more than $240 per month will see a decrease in their taxable earnings.  Employees with payroll deductions that are $240 per month or less will not be affected by this change.
 
3. Effective March 3, 2013 the cost of the MTA New York City Transit (MTA NYCT) 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard will increase from $104 to $112.  The deduction amounts for the Commuter Card-No Admin Fee plan, PMS deduction code 8997, which is based on the cost of the 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard, will increase automatically for this plan only.

If you are enrolled in another plan (Commuter Card - Unrestricted, Transit Pass, or Park-N-Ride) please review your payroll deduction amounts and make any necessary payroll deduction changes via NYCAPS Employee Self Service (ESS) or by contacting your agency TransitBenefit Coordinator.

Please refer to the following chart for the new deduction amounts for the Commuter Card - No Admin Fee Plan:

4. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has instituted a $1 fee when purchasing a new MetroCard. This may affect the use of your WageWorks Commuter Card if you do not have enough funds available in your account. The fee can be avoided by refilling your current MetroCard rather than buying a new one each month. You can refill your current MetroCard at any MetroCard Vending Machine or station booth. Learn more about the MetroCard and this change by visiting www.mta.info/metrocard/mcCombinationValue.htm or calling the MTA customer service line at 511.

MTA $1 Fee FAQ's. 

Please note effective March 3, 2013, the MTA is increasing the cost of the 30-Day Unlimited MetroCard from $104 to $112. If you do not refill an existing card, the cost to buy a new one is $113. If your payroll deductions total less than $113 per month, or you do not have enough funds in your account, your WageWorks Commuter Card will not work to buy the new MetroCard. You can, however, buy a lower value product. Please review your payroll deduction amounts and make any necessary payroll deduction changes as instructed below.

For CITY employees:

To enroll, change, suspend payroll deductions or to discontinue your enrollment in the Commuter Benefits Program, go to NYCAPS Employee Self Service at www.nyc.gov/ESS or contact your agency’s TransitBenefit Coordinator.

For DOE employees:

To enroll, change, or suspend at the DoE, please log into the Web Employee Self Service/Web Payroll application that can be accessed through the Internet using your DoE Outlook email ID and password at https://payrollportal.nycboe.net. You can also enroll, change suspend by obtaining an enrollment form from the DoE website at http://schools.nyc.gov. Mail DoE forms to the Department of Education, 65 Court Street, Room 1003, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

FOR CUNY employees:

To enroll, change, suspend payroll deductions or to discontinue your enrollment in the Commuter Benefits Programs, you may download an enrollment form from the CUNY website at www.cuny.edu/transitbenefit and contact your TransitBenefit Coordinator  

What is the advantage of being enrolled in the Commuter Benefits Program? 
The cost of traveling to and from work is unavoidable. By enrolling in the City of New York Commuter Benefits Program you will save up to 42% on the cost of your commute using public transportation. However your ride: Bus, Subway, Rail Road, Paratransit, Ferry, etc. you save.

Not Enrolled?Take advantage of the pre-tax savings while they last… 
Enrollment in the City of New York Commuter Benefits Program is open and available for eligible employees who want to avail themselves of the $245/month pre-tax savings. Enrollment is open and available through NYCAPS Employee Self Service, the Department of Education Web Employee Self Service/Web Payroll, and via your agency TransitBenefit coordinator. Click on the New Enrollment Guides for specific instructions.

New Enrollments Guide 

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Train. Bus. Subway. Paratransit. Ferry. Parking your car at the station. However you ride, the new expanded Commuter Benefits Program, presented by the City of New York and administered by WageWorks, will give you more and better ways to save.

This program works for virtually any transit system in the Tri-State area. No matter what part of the city you live and work, you’re covered:

• MTA, Long Island Railroad, Metro-North Railroad, NJ Transit, PATH, and NY Waterway, to name a few…
• Paratransit and the MTA’s Access-A-Ride program
• Parking at or near public transit to commute to work

Saving is simple. City employees are able to enroll through NYCAPS Employee Self Service and choose how they want to participate.

See the Commuter Benefits Overview on our website. Then find out more about the options that fit your commute.

• Commuter Card. The WageWorks Commuter Card is a stored value card loaded with your pre-tax and post-tax deductions that can be used to purchase transit passes and tickets at many more transit providers than supported under the previous program.

• Transit Pass. This plan allows you to arrange for home delivery of your transit provider passes and tickets through the City’s provider, WageWorks. You will have access to WageWork’s secure website to order your passes or tickets from their extensive catalog of transit providers in the Tri-State area.

• Park-n-Ride. This plan allows you to use your pre-tax and post-tax payroll deductions to pay for parking at or near a public transportation stop or station that you use to commute to work. Only transit relating parking is eligible.

• Access-A-Ride/Paratransit. This plan allows employees who receive paratransit service from MTA New York City Transit to select Access-A-Ride coupons or other paratransit options on WageWorks system.

Department of Education employees can go to the DoE Web Employee Self Service/Web Payroll application to enroll. City University of New York (CUNY) Community College employees can contact their TransitBenefit Coordinator for enrollment information.

To get started or learn more, go to http://getwageworks.com/nyc/