 Downstate members soon to get
breaks on railway, subway, bus fares
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Downstate PEF members may soon save money on their
transportation expenses thanks to an agreement signed by
PEF leaders and representatives from the Governor’s
Office of Employee Relations (GOER) in January to launch
a pilot program for pre-tax transportation benefits.
“I am pleased we are now finally moving forward with
this long-awaited benefit,” said PEF President Roger
Benson. “More importantly, we are optimistic that
once the program is up and running, it will give us solid
information to pursue expansion of all pre-tax benefits
in the PS&T contract negotiations. The contract team
will press for the broadest and fullest participation in
all pre-tax transportation benefits that are permitted
under law.”
The pilot program should be available to members as soon
as the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) irons-out
the computer programming with WageWorks, which will
administer the pilot program.
What’s in a
name?
Although most people are familiar with the term
TransitChek (a brand name of a pre-tax program offered by
TransitCenter), the state hired WageWorks, the vendor
used by the federal Transportation Administration Service
Center (TASC).
“WageWorks administers a wide array of pre-tax
benefits and has established a large network of
partnerships with local transit authorities
nationwide,” said PEF Director of Contract
Administration Robert Carrothers. “Although the
pilot program will not include all benefits, such as
parking, such expansion could be raised in the contract
talks.”
Big Apple workers only
The transit pilot program will allow eligible state
employees who work for the Labor Department, state
Insurance Fund and OSC in New York City’s five
boroughs to purchase monthly transportation passes with
pre-tax dollars. Employees can start or stop
participation each month without penalty. However,
federal law does not allow refunds for unused balances if
an employee leaves state service.
“Federal law limits how much money you can set aside
for passes to $100 per month,” Carrothers said.
“But if your total costs for a monthly pass exceeds
that amount, you can still participate in the
program.”
As most commuters living out of
Manhattan might need separate passes for trains and the
subway, they can still participate in the payroll
deduction program, even if the cost exceeds $100 per
month.
“One of the special arrangements the state made is
to allow employees to pay the full cost of their monthly
passes via payroll deduction,” Carrothers said.
“The first $100 will be paid with pre-tax dollars
and the balance with a post-tax deduction.”
To find out when you may enroll and for more information
about the program, For information about the vendor,
visit https://www.wageworks.com/Home.asp
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
New pact ends 20 years of
sick-leave inequity
PEF wins $1.75 million for
members
Downstate members to save on
fares
Stay in the know with
contract talks
Early Retirement window is
closing fast
Budge
Breakdown
PEF fires back against
proposed budget
Program, job cuts in
proposed state budget
• Office of Mental Health
(OMH)
• OMRDD
• Office of Children
and Family Services (OCFS)
• Transportation Department (DOT)
• Office of General Services (OGS)
• ENCON
• Education Department (SED)
• VESID
• Health Department (DOH)
• Department of
Corrections Services
• Division of Parole (DOP)
• Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV)
Departments
President's Message:
Stopping job-killing layoffs
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety: Working
conditions symposium
Member Mobilization:
Exposing weakest links
Nurses' Station: LobbyDay
plans for May 5th
Health Notes: Expanded
coverage for women
Retirees In Action:
Death-benefit coverage
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
DVD on members’
accounts of workplace violence
Hidden talents emerge among
members
State AFL-CIO offers
scholarship
Election Board meeting
DCAAccount user? File IRS
form 2441
2003-2006 Elections
Corrected Definitions
Other Links
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