Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plan Enrollment for 2014 Begins Today

Our online enrollment for the 2014 dependent care flexible spending plan will be open to eligible employees on Monday, November 11. If you are a full-time employee or a Certified Union employee working a 96-day contract, you are eligible to participate in this plan. 

The dependent care flex plan allows you to pre-tax child, spouse or elder care expenses that you incur in order to allow you (and your spouse, if married) to work. If married, both spouses must be working to claim dependent care expenses. A dependent is defined as: 

• A dependent of the employee who is under 13 years of age  
• A dependent or spouse who is physically or mentally disabled  
• A spouse who is physically or mentally disabled 

The maximum amount your family may flex per calendar year is $5,000. All claims must be incurred by December 31 and submitted for reimbursement within 60 days of the end of the plan year (March 1). 

Click here to view an excellent 11-minute video about our agency’s dependent care flexible spending plan. The video will answer questions such as: 

• What is considered a “change of family status” for dependent care and would allow me to change my flex elections?  
• May I elect dependent care flex dollars for day camp?  
• May I elect dependent care flex dollars for before and after school programs or summer school?  
• Can I use a relative to babysit my child?  
• May I use a debit card to pay for dependent care expenses?  
• What is the difference between electing to participate in the dependent care program and simply claiming my daycare expenses on my taxes at the end of the year? 

If you have any additional questions after watching the video, contact Kabel Business Services, our agency’s flex plan administrator, at (515) 224-9400 or (800) 300-9691. 

If you have any general questions about benefits at Heartland AEA, contact Kathy Martin, Benefits Specialist, at kmartin@heartlandaea.org or at ext. 14385. 

To make your dependent care election for 2014, click the link below: 
https://peoplebox.aea11.k12.ia.us/depcare 

Use your PeopleBox login and password. If your PeopleBox password fails, try your Employee Dashboard password. Dependent Care enrollment will close on Friday, November 29 at 4:00 p.m. If you have any problems with online enrollment, contact Maureen Whited, Computer Software Engineer, at mwhited@heartlandaea.org or ext. 14533. 

As a reminder, all dependent care expenses for the 2013 plan year must be incurred by December 31, 2013 and must be submitted to Kabel Business Services for reimbursement by March 1, 2014.