Note: This is a printed version of https://isc.uw.edu/your-benefits/fsa-dcap-2021. Please visit this page on the ISC website to ensure you're referencing the most current information.
2021 FSA/DCAP Contribution Change Opportunity
In recognition of how the current COVID-19 public health crisis has impacted the needs of many employees and their families, Washington State’s Health Care Authority (HCA) is providing employees currently enrolled in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) and/or the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) the opportunity to make midyear changes to their 2021 contribution amounts.
Changes to contribution amounts can be made during the months of March, June and September of 2021, with payroll deduction changes going into effect the month after the change request was made (e.g., change requests submitted in March go into effect on April 1).
Eligible UW employees must submit their changes in Workday.
Who Is Eligible?
This opportunity is open to employees who are currently enrolled in an FSA and/or the DCAP.
It is not possible to newly-enroll in an FSA or the DCAP as part of the opportunity.
Understand the Changes You Can Make
During this opportunity, the following changes can be made by employees currently enrolled in an FSA or the DCAP:
⇒ If you are currently enrolled in an FSA…
You can increase or decrease* your current FSA contributions.
Prior to March 1, you may wish to review UWHR’s FSA: Tax Savings for Medical Costs page for information about:
- The minimum and maximum amounts you can contribute to an FSA
- Deadlines for using FSA funds
- How an FSA can help you pay for medical costs and reduce your taxes
⇒ If you are currently enrolled in the DCAP…
You can increase or decrease* your current DCAP contributions without having to submit proof of a change in childcare costs.
Prior to March 1, you may wish to review UWHR’s DCAP: Tax Savings for Child and Elder Care page for information about:
- The maximum amount you can contribute to the DCAP
- Deadlines for using DCAP funds
- How the DCAP can help you pay for childcare and elder care and reduce your taxes
*FSA and DCAP contributions can only be lowered to the amount you have already contributed or claimed for the year.
Answers to Your Most Common Questions
How to Make Changes
To get started, refer to the 2021 FSA/DCAP Contribution Change User Guide, linked below.
After Submitting Your Contribution Changes in Workday…
After you follow the User Guide to submit your changes in Workday:
- At 11:59 pm PST on March 31, 2021, Workday will accept the most recent changes you have submitted.* You will see any changes to your contribution amounts in your April 9, 2021 paycheck.
- If you realize you need to modify the selections you’ve submitted in Workday, contact the ISC as far in advance of the March 31, 2021 deadline as possible.
- Once the March 31 deadline arrives, any unsubmitted selections in Workday will be deleted and coverage changes will not be processed.
If you miss the March opportunity, or if you realize you’d like to make additional changes to your contribution amounts, you will have another opportunity to make changes to your FSA and/or DCAP contributions in June and September, 2021. Please note: September 30 is a hard deadline and the HCA cannot provide exceptions or grace periods.
*Contribution changes cannot be less than the amount claimed or contributed as of your 3/25/2021 paycheck. The ISC will contact you if your submitted changes do not meet this criteria.
