- What is the Transit Benefit?
The Transit Benefit is an employer provided benefit designed to encourage
employees to use mass transit for their home-to-work-to-home commute.
- Is the Transit Benefit taxable?
No. The Transit Benefit is not taxable and does not have to be reported
as income.
- How much is my Transit Benefit?
You are eligible to receive dollar-for-dollar of your actual commuting
expense up to the statutory limit. The amount currently permitted
by the Internal Revenue Service is $255 per month.
- I am new. What will my commute cost?
- How do I apply for the Transit Benefit
Program.
To apply for the Transit Benefit you must use the process approved
by the federal agency for whom you work. Contact your Human Resources
Representative or the Point of Contact for your agency’s Transit
Benefit program. The contact at your agency may be listed in Participants. For
instance, if you are a Department of Transportation employee, click Participants. Then
click DOT and DOT
Transit Benefit Enrollment/Change Applications .
- What if it turns out my commuting cost
is different than I estimated?
Any time the amount of your Transit Benefit exceeds the amount you
need, you must adjust. When the change is permanent, it is best to
submit a new application. When a change is temporary, simply reduce
the amount you accept the following month. If your area is already
using electronic fare media the balance will be swept back to your
Agency at the end of the monthly cycle. Remember, you must
adjust your amount to account for leave, telework, official travel,
holidays, government closure and days that were designated Code
Red. When using the Transit Benefit to pay your home-to-work-to-home
commuting costs, you must adjust the amount of your Transit Benefit
to reflect times when you are not to authorized to claim a Transit
Benefit. This includes days on which you telework, take annual or
sick leave, are off for a holiday or office closure, are on official
travel or your area experiences a Code
Red day.
- Is the expense worksheet required every
month?
No The expense worksheet is required during initial application, annual
recertification and whenever changes are made to your application.
- Does everyone receive the maximum amount?
No. You may apply for a Transit Benefit that equals, but never exceeds
the amount you spend when using mass transit for your home-to-work-to-home
commute.
- What is the maximum amount I can receive?
Eligible employees may receive their actual commuting costs, up
to the current statutory limit of $255 per month. If your costs exceed
$255 per month you are required to cover the additional costs with
personal funds.
- Why can’t I use my driver’s license as my ID?
You must present a photo identification that proves you are a current
employee of the federal agency providing the Transit Benefit to you.
- What if my paper fare media is lost, stolen,
or damaged?
- What if my electronic fare media is lost,
stolen or damaged?
When you purchase a reloadable electronic fare media card, be sure
to register it with the Transit
Authority Provider, if this option is available. Registration
prevents a permanent loss of irreplaceable Transit Benefit funds.
The electronic fare media on a lost, stolen or damaged card can be
transferred to the new card. Please note you may not use your Transit
Benefit to purchase a reloadable electronic fare media card from
the Transit Authority. You must pay for the new card with personal
funds. For more information about your transit authority, click
here.
- Why do I have to recertify when none of
my information has changed?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requires all Transit Benefit
program participants to recertify annually to verify information
is correct and up-to-date.
- I am leaving my agency. What do I have
to do?
Withdraw from the Transit Benefit Program using your agency's established
process. If you are unsure of this process consult your agency’s
policy or consult your Transit
Benefit Program Point of Contact. Participants already using
the TRAN Serve Electronic Application System may go to https://transitapp.ost.dot.gov then
Click “Transit Benefit Application”, then Click “Withdraw” Click and
“Proceed”
- I am leaving the agency and have some
Transit Benefit I have not used. What can I do?
Return unused paper fare media to your agency
Transit Benefit program office. Your record will be credited. The
agency may require you to write a check or return the paper fare
media for which you are no longer eligible. When using a smart
card, it is best, if you know you will be leaving your agency soon,
to simply reduce the amount you accept. You can always download
again if you need a bit more toward the end of the month. In many
commuting regions, once electronic fare media is loaded to a smart
card, it cannot be returned to your agency automatically.
- If I owe money to my agency, where do
I send it?
If you received more Transit Benefit than you will use before your
separation date, you need to return unused paper fare media or provide
a money order to the
Program
Office. Your
agency
program office, point of contact or human resources department
will work with you to take correct action.
- What happens on “Code Red” days when transportation
is free?
When the air quality index is likely to contain unhealthy levels
of ozone it may be declared a CODE
RED day. When this happens a ride on your local bus may be free.
Local governments subsidize this free ride program to encourage people
to leave their cars at home and cut down on pollution. Look for a
sign on the bus that says "Code
Red Day, Ride Free" (or something similar) and has the
fare box covered. Any time the amount of Transit Benefit you receive
exceeds the amount you need, you must adjust. When you pick up the
Transit Benefit the following month, you must adjust your amount
by the number of days that were designated Code
Red” Example: You have certified your estimated commuting cost
is $5.00 per day, or $100.00 per month. There were three “Code
Red” days and you were able to ride the bus free. The next time
you receive a Transit Benefit, you must request $85.00, having reduced
by the amount of Transit Benefit left over from last time.
Note 1: When your actual commuting expense still exceeds the statutory
limit of $255 you are not required to reduce to account for days
on which you did not pay to commute.
Note 2: Users of certain electronic fare media, including the
TRAN Serve Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip ® card are
not required to return unused funds. Unused funds are automatically
returned to you Agency at the end of each monthly funding cycle.
- My commuting costs have changed. What
do I do?
- I drive to work on occasion. Do I need
to adjust my benefit amount?
Whenever the amount of Transit Benefit you receive exceeds the amount
you need you must adjust your benefit.
Example #1: You do adjust your benefit amount if you have certified
that your estimated commuting cost is $4.00 per day, or $80.00 per
month. On two days during the month you decide to drive rather than
use mass transportation, reducing your monthly commuting cost by
$8.00. If your Region still uses paper fare media you must
reduce the amount you accept when it is time for the next Transit
Benefit Distribution to $72.00, to account for the amount of
media left from last time.
Example #2: You do not have to adjust your benefit amount if you
have certified your estimated commuting cost is $14.00 per day, or
$280.00 per month. You received a Transit Benefit of $255.00 for
the month and on two days during the month you drove to work, reducing
your mass transit expenses by $28. At the next Transit Benefit distribution
you do not need to reduce your Transit Benefit as your actual commuting
cost still exceeded the amount of Transit Benefit you received.
Note: Users of certain electronic fare media, including the
TRANServe Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip ® card are
not required to return unused funds. Unused funds are automatically
returned to you Agency at the end of each monthly funding cycle.
If this does not occur in your region your Agency may require you
to produce a check or money order to return the funds to their program.
- Can I use my Transit Benefit for my carpool?
No. A carpool does not meet the
definition of
mass transportation and its riders are not eligible to receive the
Transit Benefit. Consult
your
agency policy document for details. Commuter highway vehicle. A
commuter highway vehicle is any highway vehicle that seats at least
6 adults (not including the driver). In addition, you must reasonably
expect that at least 80% of the vehicle mileage will be for transporting
employees between their homes and work place with employees occupying
at least one-half the vehicle's seats (not including the driver's).
- Are carpool participants eligible to receive
the Transit Benefit?
No. The Federal Transit Benefit is for federal employees who choose
to commute using mass transit in a
commuter
highway vehicle. This includes bus, rail, light rail, or an authorized
vanpool.
- Can I use the Transit Benefit to go to/from
meetings?
No. Travel to an off-site meeting or training class is an office
expense. The Transit Benefit is provided solely for your home-to-work-to-home
commute via mass transportation. Any other use of these funds is
actionable as fraud, waste or abuse of federal funds.
- My work schedule has changed. Do I need
to adjust my Transit Benefit to account for the change?
- I missed work for a few days. What do
I do with my Transit Benefit for those days?
If you are absent from work and your actual commuting cost falls below
the amount of the Transit Benefit you received, you are required
to adjust. This means you must reduce the amount of the Transit Benefit
you accept during the next distribution cycle. The amount you reduce
depends on your actual commuting expense on the days that you actually
commuted to your office. Example: You have certified that your estimated
commuting cost is $5.00 per day, or $100.00 per month. You are on
leave for 10 days. During the next Transit Benefit distribution cycle,
you must request $50.00, to account for the amount of fare media
left from last time.
Note: Users of certain electronic fare media, including
the TRANServe Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip ® card
are not required to return unused funds. Unused funds are automatically
returned to you Agency at the end of each monthly funding cycle.
If this does not occur in your region your Agency may require you
to produce a check or money order to return the funds to their
program.
- If I do not use all my benefit, can I
give it to my co-worker?
No! Your Transit Benefit belongs to you and to no one else. It is against
the law to sell or give your fare media to someone else. The federal
Transit Benefit was designed to assist employees with public transportation
costs and support initiatives that cut-down on air pollution and
relieve traffic congestion. The Transit Benefit is not transferable.
It is not to be loaned, given away or sold. When you retire, leave
the agency, or otherwise separate, you must return all unused fare
media to
your
employing agency. This includes accepting employment with another
federal agency. Each employer funds their own program. You must withdraw
from the
first
agency and apply with the new agency.
- What should I do when I have some of my
Transit Benefit left over?
You must adjust your benefit the following month. When employees enroll
in the Transit Benefit Program, they must certify that the benefit
amount requested does not exceed their actual monthly commuting costs.
To do otherwise constitutes a false statement. The statement on the
agency enrollment form reads, “This certification concerns a matter
with the jurisdiction of an agency of the United States. Making a
false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the maker
subject to criminal prosecution under Title 18, United States Code,
Section 1001, providing for a fine and imprisonment. Agency disciplinary
actions up to and including dismissal may also be pursued.”
- I know I am going on leave and will not
need the full benefit amount. What should I do?
When you know in advance you will not need the full benefit it is best
to take a lesser amount during the next regular distribution. The
amount depends on how many days you plan to work. Example: You have
certified that your estimated commuting cost is $5.00 per day, or
$100.00 per month. You are on leave for 10 days. During the next
Transit Benefit distribution, you must request $50.00, having reduced
the amount by the amount of media left from last time.
Note: Users of certain electronic fare media, including the TRANServe
Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip ® card are not required to return
unused funds. Unused funds are automatically returned to you Agency
at the end of each monthly funding cycle. If this does not occur
in your region your Agency may require you to produce a check or
money order to return the funds to their program.
- Can I receive my Transit Benefit while
on extended leave?
No. This is a monthly benefit based on the actual cost of your home-to-work-to-home
commute. If you are not coming to work, you are not paying to commute.
Do not accept a benefit. You must adjust your benefit to account
for the time you are out and return the benefit amount you do not
use.
Note: Users of certain electronic fare media, including the TRANServe
Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip card are not required to return
unused funds. Unused funds are automatically returned to you Agency
at the end of each monthly funding cycle. If this does not occur
in your region your Agency may require you to produce a check or
money order to return the funds to their program.
- I have been on TDY the past two months.
Can I pick up my Transit Benefit for the months I missed?
No. You do not take what you cannot use. Remember, when the amount
you receive exceeds the amount you need, you must always adjust.
If you received the benefit in advance of going on TDY, you must
factor your absence into the amount you pick up at the next distribution.
Note: No Action is necessary for users of certain electronic
fare media, including the TRANServe Debit Card and the WMATA SmarTrip
® card. You are not required to return unused funds. Unused
funds are automatically returned to you Agency at the end of each
monthly funding cycle. If this does not occur in your region your
Agency may require you to produce a check or money order to return
the funds to their program.
- Can I use this benefit to pay for parking
at my commuter lot?
No. Indirect costs, such as gas, mileage, or parking cannot be included
as part of the estimated commuting cost. These Questions are Specific
to Participants in the National Capital Region
These Questions are Specific to Participants in the National Capital Region
- I live in the Washington DC area, My SmarTrip
® card stopped working. What should I do?
You must take two steps If your SmarTrip ® card stops working.
- Call 1-888-762-7874 to cancel your card and to request a new
one. If the problem is in the chip, WMATA will transfer your
benefit to a new card and send the card to you.
- Immediately register your new SmarTrip ® card (www.wmata.com) to
protect your funds.
- Complete a Transit Benefit Application change form so your
transit benefit is re-assigned to the new card.
- I lost my SmarTrip® card:
You must take two actions if you lose your SmarTrip ® card.
- Call 1-888-762-7874 or email smartrip@wmata.com to
cancel your card and request a new one. The Washington
Metro Area Transit Authority will transfer your benefit to
a new card, less the new card fee.
- Register your new SmarTrip ® card to protect both your
personal funds and you transit benefit.
- Complete a Transit Benefit Application Change according to your
agency’s policy and procedure so that the Transit Benefit
is available to your new card.
- I forgot to download my monthly benefit.
Am I able to get two months next time?
No. The Transit Benefit is for the current calendar month.
- Do I need a separate SmarTrip® card for
the Transit Benefit and another one to pay for Parking at the Metro
station?
No. You may use the same SmarTrip®card to pay for your fare and your
parking. Metro provides some discounted rates to passengers who park
at a Metro station and ride the bus or subway from that location.
- I do not see the answer to my question here.
Please consult your Agency Transit Benefit Program Policy or contact
your Agency Program Co-ordinator to obtain more information regarding
the Transit Benefit Program.
Look left for Agency specific guides. 
