This benefit plan is administered through WageWorks, who also administers our Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefit Plan. All full-time permanent faculty and staff are eligible and the benefit amount described below is provided on a one per family basis.

The Child Care Subsidy Plan is an employer-funded pre-tax plan. The University provides a calendar year contribution of $750 pro-rated over each pay period, which can be used for qualifying childcare expenses for eligible tax dependent children up to the earlier of age 6 or the start of kindergarten.

Eligible Expenses

Au Pair; Babysitting (work-related, in your home or someone else’s, but not provided by your own tax dependent); Child Care, Educational Services (for preschool, but not kindergarten or above); Nanny; Preschool; Nursery School; Summer Day Camp.

Government Requirements

This is a calendar year plan and only eligible expenses incurred during that time period will be considered for reimbursement. Expenses for the 2010 calendar year must be submitted no later than March 31, 2011. Use all of your funds provided by the University. Keep track of your account balances, and plan ahead to make sure you spend the full amount before the plan year ends. Otherwise, you will forfeit the remaining balance in accordance with IRS regulations. The IRS limit for you and your spouse combined is $5,000 annually for pre-tax employer and employee contributions toward dependent care expenses. This plan is subject to annual non-discrimination testing to verify that it does not favor highly compensated employees, in accordance with IRS regulations. We will advise our employees who are impacted if there is a testing issue in any given calendar year.

Participating in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

If you enrolled in the employee-funded Dependent Care FSA and wish to change your election, you may do so by completing a new enrollment form. If you enrolled in the maximum $5,000 permitted by the IRS and also wish to enroll in the new Child Care Subsidy Plan, you must reduce your contribution to $4,250 as the maximum applies to all employee and employer funds.

Enrollment

An open enrollment period is held in the fall for employees to enroll in the Child Care Subsidy Plan effective January 1st. In accordance with IRS regulations, you must elect to enroll in the plan prior to the start of the plan year. Enrollments and changes are permitted mid-year only within 30 days of a qualifying life status event (e.g. marriage, divorce, birth, adoption of a child). For the enrollment form click here. Please send your completed enrollment form to the attention of Annette Lucidi in the Human Resources department.

WageWorks Claim Process

Once the Human Resources Department has processed your enrollment with WageWorks, a welcome kit will be sent to your home address with detailed information concerning claim submission. This kit will also include their toll-free telephone number and website information. Until information is received from WageWorks, all inquiries concerning the new plan may be directed to the Human Resources department on ext. 9-7900.

This is intended as a summary only and, if a dispute should arise, the legal plan document and contract will always govern. Villanova University plans to continue this benefit plan but reserves the right to terminate, suspend, withdraw, amend or modify any benefit plan at any time.