Dependent Care Spending Account

Pay for dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars while you and your spouse or partner work.

Benefit

With a Dependent Care Spending Account you can reimburse yourself with tax-free dollars for up to $5,000 annually (with a minimum of $100) of daycare expenses for your children under age 13 and other qualifying dependents (or $2,500, if you are married and file separate tax returns). back to top

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses include care while you are working, such as:

• Babysitting
• Daycare
• Preschool programs
• Eldercare services

Expenses that are not eligible include child support payments, overnight camp, private school tuition and cleaning and cooking expenses not assumed by the care provider. back to top

Timing

Contributions to the Dependent Care Spending Account work differently than those for Health Care Spending Accounts. In your Dependent Care Spending Account, money is available only after it has been deducted from your pay. Your account works like a checking account you pay into each pay period, so you can only spend as much as you have actually contributed to date. back to top

Payments and reimbursements

Reimbursement for your dependent care expenses will be paid by WageWorks as a check to you, a direct deposit to your bank account or a payment directly to your provider. back to top

Learn more

To confirm what is eligible for reimbursement under your Dependent Care Spending Account, go to:

To confirm what is eligible for reimbursement under your Dependent Care Spending Account, go to:

Enrollment Summary Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD)

Forms