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Important changes coming to SmartBenefits
Metro is introducing changes to the SmartBenefits program to take effect January 1, 2010. One positive change is that employees will not have to go to a Metro farecard machine to download benefits; they will automatically load when the card is tapped on a faregate or bus farebox. Less welcome is a plan to return unused benefits to the employer at the end of this month, which could mean a loss of benefits some employees paid for with their own money, and which could also create accounting difficulties for employers. After some negative feedback on the plan, Metro says it is reconsidering. See the links below for general information and the latest news.
SmartBenefits changes may not be set in stone
November 9, 2009, CommuterPageBlog
Catoe comments on SmartBenefits changes
By Robert Thomson, November 6, 2009, Washington Post
Changes to SmartBenefits are coming - are you ready?
By Wendy Duren, November 5, 2009, CommuterPageBlog
Major SmartBenefits changes to begin January 1, 2010
October 27, 2009, WMATA
Metro's SmartBenefits page
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SmartBenefits®
Many employers in the Washington, D.C. area offer their empoyees a transit benefit to help with the cost of commuting, and to encourage the use of public transportation. Using Metro's SmartBenefits program, employers assign transit benefits to accounts linked to their employees' SmarTrip cards. Employers connect to Metro's website to assign benefits, eliminating the need to distribute paper tickets or passes.
SmarTrip cards are accepted by the Metro system for bus and rail travel and parking. Many local bus systems and Metro-registered van pools also accept SmarTrip cards. Employees who commute on MARC or VRE commuter rail (which do not accept SmarTrip cards) can have their transit benefits assigned to a personal account with The Commuter Store in Arlington, or online at CommuterDirect.com, in order to receive the tickets or passes they need.
How SmartBenefits Works
SmartBenefits works just like many other commonly-available fringe benefits such as employer-provided health insurance. Employees are not taxed for the value of the transit benefit they receive, and employers can deduct the cost of providing the program as a business expense. The monthly benefit can be any amount the employer chooses to provide, although a maximum of $230 per month is allowable tax-free or pre-tax to employees.
Ask your employer if this benefit is available to you. If your company does not yet offer SmartBenefits, Arlington Transportation Partners can provide information about setting up a SmartBenefits program at your company.
For more information about SmartBenefits, see Metro's SmartBenefits page.
Use SmartBenefits with CommuterDirect.com and The Commuter Store
SmartBenefits can be applied to your CommuterDirect.com account to make purchases from CommuterDirect.com, from the three Arlington locations of The Commuter Store, or from the Mobile Commuter Store. This is a great way to use SmartBenefits to purchase fares from transit providers that don't accept SmarTrip cards, such as VRE and MARC.
For more information about using SmartBenefits with the CommuterDirect.com service and at the Commuter Stores, go to CommuterDirect.com and click "SmartBenefits."
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