dependent care assistance programs Archives

Dependent Eligibility Audits – What Are They and Why Should You Consider Conducting One?

Julie Stich, CEBS

13 Dec 202213 Dec 2022

Anyone who works with health care benefit plans knows that costs keep going up. They also know they have a responsibility to make sure the plan is sustainable. Add into that the ERISA responsibility to make sure the plan’s terms are followed. […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dependent Care Employee Benefits Regulatory U.S.

Dependent Care Accounts and the Taxation of Carryover Amounts

Anne Newhouse

23 Jun 202121 Jun 2021

Beginning in March of 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released several pieces of guidance to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on employees who have flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and dependent care assistance program (DCAP) accounts and were unable to use the […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Legislative Talking Benefits Podcast U.S.

Talking Benefits Podcast: This Is . . . Jeop-ARPA-dy!

Anne Patterson

14 Jun 202117 Jun 2021

The latest Talking Benefits podcast episode covers the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, signed into law by President Biden in March. There are huge implications for all Americans on several levels, but the pod squad spent time diving into some […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dependent Care Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) Legislative U.S.

How the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Impacts Dependent Care Assistance Programs

Anne Newhouse

24 Mar 202119 Apr 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes an optional (but not required) temporary change for the calendar year of 2021 to increase the maximum pretax contribution limit from $5,000 to $10,500 for dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs). For individuals who are […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Legislative U.S.

Finally—Additional Relief for Dependent Care Assistance Programs Due to COVID-19

Anne Newhouse

21 Jan 202123 Mar 2021

[Update: IRS Notice 2021-15, which was released on March 2, 2021, clarifies the application of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, on dependent care assistance programs under Section 125 cafeteria plans.] At last, there is legislation to help plan sponsors and participants with […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) U.S.

Changes to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Due to COVID-19

Anne Newhouse

27 Oct 202021 Jan 2021

[An update on temporary guidance for DCAPs can be found here: Finally—Additional Relief for Dependent Care Assistance Programs Due to COVID-19, 1/21/21] In March and April, as states first began releasing their “shelter-in-place” orders, plan sponsors had to deal with questions about […]