Save more when you purchase your commuter passes or pay for your parking with pre-tax dollars.
Commuter Benefits Overview
HealthEquity (formerly WageWorks®) Commuter is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for public transit—including train, subway, bus, ferry, and eligible vanpool—and qualified parking as part of your daily commute to work. HealthEquity Commuter is a great way to put extra money in your pocket each month and make your commute more convenient and affordable.
Why You Need It
• Save an average of 30% on public transit and parking as part of your daily commute to work
• Easy to use—download a free mobile app and manage your account with your mobile device
• No waiting—sign up any time to start saving—and no “use it or lose it” as long as you’re enrolled
How It Works
Simply decide how much to contribute up to the allowed monthly limit. Funds are withdrawn from your paycheck for deposit to your account before taxes are deducted. Pause or cancel contributions to your account at any time. There’s no “use it or lose it” as long as you’re enrolled in the program.
How You Use It
Use a variety of convenient payment methods associated with your account. Buy transit and parking passes and vouchers using the HealthEquity Commuter Card. Pay your parking provider or automatically load monthly transit passes directly from your account. Get reimbursed for eligible commuting expenses you pay out of pocket. Read this quick guide for more information.
How You Manage It
Manage your account via a secure website on any computer or mobile device that’s connected to the Internet or via the EZ Receipts® mobile app.
How Much You Can Contribute
Contribute up to a maximum of $300 per month for transit, vanpools and qualified parking.
How You Get It
Ready to save? Enroll in HealthEquity Commuter now. Learn more at www.healthequity.com/wageworks
Frequently Asked Questions:
When do I need to make purchases?
You must make your transit, parking, and/or vanpool purchases by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on the 10th of the month PRIOR to the benefit month (i.e., the month in which you need the benefit). For example, to order your transit pass for the month of July, you will need to order between May 11th and June 10th. The exception to this is for Long Island Railroad orders which are needed earlier by the 4th of each month.
I tried to use the HealthEquity website but it did not allow me to enroll.
If you are eligible but have trouble getting into the HealthEquity (formerly WageWorks) website, you should first contact HealthEquity to determine if it is a computer problem. Every week, we send updated eligibility information to HealthEquity, who uses this data to control access to employee accounts. If HealthEquity advises that you are ineligible, then you should contact our Benefits Center at 1-800-220-1716
When will my payroll deductions be made?
Your deductions will be reflected during each benefit month. So for example if you enroll by September 10th for October benefits – your deductions will begin in October.
What if I miss the deadline?
You may enroll at any time. If you miss a current deadline you will simply begin benefits in the following month. Any elections made after the 10th of the month (4th if you are receiving LIRR passes), will be effective for the following cycle. For example, if you enroll for monthly commuting passes on September 12, you will be enrolling for November benefits (because this is after the 10th).
Can I sign up to get my transit pass or parking vendor paid automatically without having to come back to HealthEquity every month?
Yes. By selecting Every Month as the frequency when you make your first purchase, you will automatically be signed up to receive your benefits every month until you make a change. To enroll, please visit www.healthequity.com/wageworks or call HealthEquity at 1-877-924-3967.
What if my commuting costs or patterns change?
Under our Commuter Benefits program, you are free to change your participation throughout the year. For example, if you move, transfer to another work location, go on a leave of absence, or your commuter costs change, you may need to adjust your transit purchases. You can make changes through www.healthequity.com/wageworks. Please note that if you experience one of the events listed above, you must notify HealthEquity that you want to change your Commuter Benefits election. All changes must be made by the 10th of the current month for the change to be effective for the following month.
Who should I ask if I have further questions about Commuter Benefits?
For more information on how Commuter Benefits works, please contact HealthEquity directly. You can call (877) 924-3967.
What if the transit or parking vendor I use isn’t available through HealthEquity?
In the event that your transit or parking option is not available, you can use the Pay Me Back feature. Using this feature, you can elect an amount to be deducted from your paycheck up to the monthly before-tax limits. Your before-tax expenses will be reimbursed once you submit your receipts. To submit your receipts, simply print the Pay Me Back claim form, complete it and fax or mail it to HealthEquity (contact information is provided on the form) along with your receipts. Per IRS rules, you must submit your claim within 180 days following the end of the benefit month (i.e., the month in which you incur expenses for which you will subsequently file a claim). Be sure to keep a copy of the claim form and your receipts with your important tax documents. HealthEquity will reimburse you through your paycheck as soon as administratively possible.
If your provider does not give receipts or ticket stubs, you can use the File Online Claim feature to certify. There is no need to submit a Pay Me Back claim form if you use the online claim process.
Under Commuter Benefits, does my employer pay for my transit or parking?
No. Commuter Benefits simply provides the opportunity for you to pay for these items—up to certain limits—with before-tax wages, similar to our Health Care Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. Any additional amounts above the before-tax limits will be deducted from your paycheck on an after-tax basis.
How should I submit expenses for EZPass?
You will not be reimbursed for EZPass expenses because tunnel, bridge, and highway tolls are not considered eligible expenses under the Commuter Spending Account.
What happens if I leave employment or become ineligible for benefits?
When you terminate employment or become ineligible, you will no longer be eligible to participate in Commuter Benefits. You will then be responsible for reimbursing the Company for any funds advanced to pay for Commuter Benefits passes, vanpooling, parking and commuter card expenses that have not been deducted from your salary as of your employment termination date or the effective date on which you changed to an ineligible status. If you have pre-tax funds on your commuter card you will have 90 days to use those funds or they will forfeit.
How and when do I receive my transit passes?
Your transit passes will be mailed directly to your home before the beginning of the benefit month (i.e., the month in which you need it). You will not be charged for postage and handling fees.
I currently subscribe to an automatic “Mail & Ride” program for my monthly rail passes. How does my enrollment in HealthEquity impact that subscription? How can I ensure that I won’t receive duplicate rail passes?
If you use the MetroNorth or LIRR “Mail & Ride” account programs, simply register and place your order with HealthEquity. You will be prompted to provide your current “Mail & Ride” account number. You will continue to receive your transit tickets as usual, but HealthEquity will pay the “Mail & Ride” program directly on your behalf and replace your current payment method. When you receive your pass, it will be attached to an invoice, which you can disregard. Alternatively, you can also use the HealthEquity Commuter Card to pay for your “Mail & Ride” ticket. Just remember that the monies are loaded on the Commuter Card on the 25th of every month.
If you use the NJ Transit Mail & Ride program, you have two options. You can contact “Mail & Ride” directly in advance to cancel your participation in their program and order your passes through HealthEquity to be delivered to your home. Alternatively, if you’d like to remain in your current “Mail & Ride” program, you can order the HealthEquity Commuter Card and use that card as your payment method for the “Mail & Ride” program. Just remember that the monies are loaded on the Commuter Card the 25th of every month before the benefit month.
If buying a weekly or monthly transit pass doesn’t work for me, can I participate in Commuter Benefits?
Yes. If your commuting expenses vary, you can select a HealthEquity Commuter Card for a monthly amount so that you can make purchases as you go. Please see the “HealthEquity Commuter Card” section in this FAQ for additional information.
What if I don’t receive my transit passes in time?
If your passes do not arrive before the third of the benefit month, contact HealthEquity directly at (877) 924-3967. HealthEquity will instruct you to purchase a replacement and send you a Special Handling form by email or fax. Complete the form and return to HealthEquity, along with a copy of your replacement pass or receipt. HealthEquity will reimburse you for the cost of the replacement pass, but will not reimburse you for daily fare because you will presumably purchase your replacement pass on the 1st of the month. Please note: In this situation, HealthEquity will only reimburse you for cost of the replacement pass on two occasions.
What should I do if I lose my transit pass?
If you lose your transit pass, HealthEquity generally cannot replace it unless the transit agency is otherwise willing to honor the lost pass. The MTA, for instance, will offer credit for a lost pass ONLY for a 30-day unlimited Metro-Card that was purchased with a credit, debit, or ATM card.
I ordered more passes than I thought I needed. Can I get a refund on the passes that I don’t need?
That depends on your transit agency. Some agencies, such as LIRR and MetroNorth, allow refunds for any passes that are still sealed in their original packaging. To find out if you can get a refund, please call HealthEquity as soon as possible at (877) 924-3967. Please note that if you already used your pass, you will NOT be able to get a refund. Moving forward, please remember to adjust your future elections accordingly on the HealthEquity website.
What if my pass doesn’t work?
If your pass is damaged and does not work, contact HealthEquity directly at (877) 924-3967. HealthEquity will instruct you to purchase a replacement and send you a Special Handling form by email or fax. Complete the form and return to HealthEquity, along with a copy of your replacement pass or receipt. HealthEquity will reimburse you for the cost of the replacement pass, but will not reimburse you for daily fare because you will presumably purchase your replacement pass on the 1st of the month.
What if I take transit to work but pay to park at a “Park-and-Ride” at the transit station?
If you select the mass transit benefit, you can also indicate the amount of any “Park-and-Ride” parking costs that you spend on a monthly basis. Both of these costs are eligible under Commuter Benefits, and the monthly salary reduction will apply separately to your parking and mass transit expenses. Your monthly before-tax limitations will be $265 for mass transit and parking. If your qualified transportation expenses exceed these respective amounts, then the remainder will be deducted on an after-tax basis.
A number of “Park-and-Ride” vendors currently participate with HealthEquity and this list is frequently updated. Even if your vendor is currently not on the list, please check the HealthEquity website periodically for any changes.
I like getting cash reimbursement because my commuting needs vary throughout the month. If buying a weekly or monthly transit pass does not work for me, can I still participate in Commuter Benefits?
Yes. If your commuting expenses vary, you can select a HealthEquity Transit Commuter Card so that you can make purchases as you go.
Does my Transit Commuter Card reflect my entire commuting costs (before-tax and after tax)?
You choose the amount of money that you want to put on the Commuter Card. You can put enough to cover your entire commuting costs or you can put only enough money to reflect the pre-tax amount of your commuting costs. Be advised that most ticket machines do not allow for multiple forms of payment so you may want to consider putting the whole amount on the card.
Do I have to use all the money on my Commuter Card by the end of the month?
You do not have to use all of your money on your Commuter Card every month. Any balance remaining will carry over to the following month for you to use. Remember, you can adjust your monthly election to suit your commuting needs. If you become ineligible for Commuter Benefits, you will have 90 days to use the remaining funds on the card.
Do I get a new Commuter Card every month?
No. You receive a card only after the first time you choose this option. However, if you elected an amount for every month, then money for each subsequent month is automatically added to that card on the 25th of the month prior to the benefit month.
What should I do if my Commuter Card is denied?
You should verify your card balance by logging on to “My Account” at www.healthequity.com/wageworks or contact HealthEquity customer service via email at help@wageworks.com or via phone at (877) 924-3967.
What should I do if I lose my Commuter Card?
If you lose your Commuter Card, call HealthEquity customer service immediately. HealthEquity will put a stop on the lost card and issue you a new card with the remaining available funds.
When will I receive my passes that I ordered?
The passes that you ordered are generally received during the last week of the month PRIOR to the benefit month. If you do not receive your pass by this time, please call HealthEquity at 877-924-3967.
What if I had HealthEquity or WageWorks with my former employer?
You will need to register as a first-time user under the News Corp account. You cannot use the same username and password as you did under your prior employer. If you need help registering, please call HealthEquity at 877-924-3967.