SmartBenefits and Transit Benefit Changes for 2012
Tax Free Transit Benefit
The current transit benefit cap of $230/month has not been extended. Beginning January 1, 2012 the tax-free transit benefit will decrease to $125/month. The parking benefit will increase to $240/month.
Please inform your employees of this deduction in monthly benefit amount and plan to update your records as many employees will need to make adjustments.
In an official statement, Caryn Souza, Executive Director of the Association of Commuter Transportation, noted that there is a possibility that the monthly allowable amount for tax-free benefits will increase within months of the decrease due to heavy Congressional support for the benefit. To continue to encourage Congressional support for a higher monthly allowance for transit, click the box on the above to send a letter to your local representative.
SmartBenefits Changes
Autoload
WMATA recently announced a major change to its SmartBenefits program. Called "Autoload," the new system has already been rolled out to federal accounts, local government and WageWorks, but all private sector and remaining accounts will be able to access the new features on January 1, 2012.
How Employees Claim Monthly Benefit: With Autoload, the transit benefit monies will remain in the account of the SmarTrip card holder. To access the account, an employee will simply tap the card at a Metrorail faregate, bus farebox or Metro parking target. That means no more waiting in line at the Farecards and Passes machine every month!
Note: To access the Autoload account, employees must have used the card at least once in the last two weeks of the month prior to the Autoload rollover date. Please advise your employees and remind them of this to ensure no lapse in benefits.
View WMATA's FAQs regarding Autoload for further details.
If you have employees that currently use VRE or MARC commuter trains, please direct them to CommuterDirect.com where they can designate their benefit through electronic SmartBenefits to purchase their tickets.
SmarTrip 'Purses'
Each SmarTrip card will have three "purses": Personal, Transit Benefit and Parking Benefit.
- Personal (also called Stored Value): Maximum stored value of $300 – can be used for transit or parking, however, fees will be pulled from the Transit and Parking purses first.
- Transit: Used for bus and rail only. If transit purse is empty, fares will be pulled from the personal purse. Purse filled through employer's SmartBenefits program.
- Parking: Used for Metro Parking facilities only. If parking purse is empty, fares will be pulled from the personal purse.
Purse filled through employer's SmartBenefits program.
For details and up to the minute information on all SmartBenefits changes, visit www.wmata.com.
Please fill out our Contact Us form if you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes. For specific SmartBenefits questions, please contact Metro directly.