Qualified Transportation Expense Benefit Plan
Featuring eTRAC® Card Technology QTE Benefits
. In 1998 Congress enhanced the Clean Air Act to allow pre-tax income to be used to offset commuting costs . Separate benefits are available for mass transit and qualified parking
. Reimbursable business expenses do not qualify
. Depending on your tax bracket, you can save up to 40% on your commuting costs . Pre-tax limits are $120 for transit and $230 for parking; elections that exceed limits are post-tax contributions Eligible and Ineligible QTE Expenses
. Eligible QTE expenses include the following work-related commuting costs: -Buses -Vanpools
-Trains/Subways -Parking
. Ineligible QTE expenses include the following: -Bicycles -Taxis
-Carpools -Tolls
-Telecommuting -Fuel eTRAC® MasterCard®
Three ways to access your funds
– eTRAC® MasterCard ®
– Metra Pass Fulfillment
– Cash reimbursement The eTRAC Card
. Stored-Value MasterCard
. Holds the value of your payroll deductions
. Use it to pay for your transit and parking expenses How To Use eTRAC
. Can be used only at mass transit and parking vendors that accept MasterCard . Contains two purses: Mass Transit & Parking
. No credit check or impact on your credit report
. Purchases limited to card balance
. If prompted at a ticket vending machine, select CREDIT
. Lost/stolen cards should be reported immediately eTRAC MasterCard
. You will receive your eTRAC card toward the end of the month following enrollment . Do not throw away this envelope—it contains your card! . To activate your card, call the number on the card activation label Cash Reimbursement
. If your vendor does not accept credit cards, pay with cash or check . Access your eTRAC account funds by completing a cash reimbursement claim form . Attach proof of payment if available . Submit the cash reimbursement claim form to BRI within 180 days of incurring the expense . Your eTRAC account balance will be reduced by the amount of your eligible claim . You have a choice to receive reimbursement via a check or direct deposit (submit the Direct Deposit Authorization Form if choosing this method) Cash Reimbursement Claim Form Using eTRAC with the Chicago Transit Authority
. Use eTRAC for automatic reloading of a Chicago Card Plus account
– The CTA will automatically charge your eTRAC each time your Chicago Card Plus balance reaches its reloading threshold
. Once you receive your eTRAC card, go to www.chicago-card.com
– If you already own a Chicago Card Plus, login to your CTA account to provide your eTRAC card number
– If you do not own a Chicago Card Plus, order one with your eTRAC card Chicago Card Plus new users - Choose your fare payment option and reload amount
$10 $20 $30 $40 $60 $86 (30-day pass)
$20 is advised for the pay-per-use option Using eTRAC with the Chicago Transit Authority, cont’d
.Use eTRAC at CTA’s new Express Vending Machines
– Add Value to a Chicago Card
– Purchase pay-per-use Transit Cards Using eTRAC with Chicago’s Metra Trains
As Metra does not accept credit cards, you can order your Metra pass on the Benefit Resource website
When making your election at www.benefitresource.com, take the following steps: . Click on Chicago Metra
. Select your Metra line, zones of travel, and pass type
. Passes are mailed to your home by the end of the month
. If you currently participate in Metra’s Ticket-by-Mail program, cancel this arrangement Using eTRAC with Chicago’s South Shore Trains
. Use your eTRAC card to purchase South Shore tickets online
. When making your transit election at www.benefitresource.com, be sure to enter the price of your desired pass plus an extra $2 for NICTD’s convenience fee
. Purchase pass online at www.nictd.com with eTRAC card (make purchase after 17th of month, when funds are posted to your eTRAC card; pass will be mailed by the 25th)
. To order your pass, visit www.nictd.com, click fares and buy tickets online
. If you currently participate in South Shore’s Ticket-by-Mail program, cancel this arrangement Using eTRAC for NYC-area Transit
Use your eTRAC card to purchase passes online or at ticket vending machines for: Use your eTRAC card to add value to a Metrocard, which is accepted on the following transit systems: • MTA Subway and Buses • Long Island Bus • Staten Island Railway • PATH Trains* • JFK-AirTrain*
*Accepts only the regular, not unlimited-ride, Metrocard Using eTRAC for Parking Expenses
. Use your eTRAC at any parking vendor that accepts credit cards
. Or… pay the parking vendor and submit a cash reimbursement form to BRI within 180 days of incurring the expense
. To make a parking election, enter your desired amount in the monthly parking amount section when logged into the enrollment page at www.benefitresource.com Making Elections for Transit & Parking
. Login to the BRI website: www.benefitresource.com to submit elections by the 5th of the month – Select QTE Enrollment and Changes – Enter your election in the Monthly Transit Amount and/or Monthly Parking Amount sections – As Metra does not accept credit cards, you will be able to use the web site to choose any type of Metra pass, which will be mailed to your home by the end of the month – Your elections will post to your eTRAC card by the 17th of the month . Election changes are allowed monthly . Once an election is made, it will self-renew each month—you need to make elections only when changing the previous month’s amount . Your online account also provides access to your eTRAC balance, transaction detail, and forms (cash reimbursement form, direct deposit authorization form, etc.) Enrolling: Login at www.benefitresource.com
Click on Participants Logging In…In a secure window that will open up!
jt94564 Your company code is columbia
columbia
000123456
***** Member ID is your 6-digit PeopleSoft ID # preceded by 3 zeros Default Password = Your Zip Code Be advised that you will be prompted to change your password the first time you login Enrolling
*Click Here Enrolling
*Click Next Enrolling
Verify that information is correct and up-to-date Enrolling
Enter Transit Election
Enter Parking Election
Choose a Metra Pass (Chicago Metra riders only) Enrolling
Confirm Enrolling
Read and Agree Enrolling
Print for your Records Making and Changing Your Election
. Initial enrollment period ends December 5
. Future elections can be made by the 5th of any month
. Once an election is made, it will self-renew each month—you need to make elections only when changing the previous month’s amount
. Election made in December will result in payroll deduction on December 19, with funds available on your eTRAC card by December 17 and/or Metra passes mailed to your home by December 23
Checking Your Balances / Questions
. Go online to www.benefitresource.com any time
. Email [email protected]
. Call BRI Participant Services 800-473-9595 (7am – 7pm CT) If You Lose Your Card
. Call BRI Participant Services immediately (800-473-9595)
. A new card will be issued and your balances transferred
. There is a $5 charge for replacement of lost cards
If You Terminate . While an active employee, balances carry forward every month, every year . Upon termination, you have until the end of the month following your last month of employment to use remaining balances Enjoy Using eTRAC!