November 4, 2025 — For PEF members who wish to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with the New York State’s program administrator, Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC), open enrollment is underway until December 8, 2025. Enrollment lasts for one year, and members need to enroll annually if they would like to continue using FSA programs.
FSA benefits help members save money by allowing payment for certain health-related expenses with pre-tax dollars. The Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA), and Adoption Advantage Account are the most popular FSA programs.
Members must enroll using TASC’s online platform. Answers to eligibility questions about any of the programs can be found on OER’s website.
Adoption Advantage accounts allow a member to pay expenses related to the adoption of a child with pre-tax dollars up to $17,670.
An HSCA sets aside money starting as low as $100 up to the maximum of $3,400 for 2026 to pay for health care expenses that are not reimbursed by health insurance or other plans. Medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing, prescription drug and certain over-the-counter drug expenses for members, spouses and eligible dependents can be reimbursed by an HCSA.
When using a DCAA, members may set aside pre-tax dollars — up to a maximum of either $7,500 or $3,750 based on tax filing status — to pay for eligible childcare for children under the age of 13, elder care or disabled dependent care expenses.
Members may enroll in a DCAA without choosing to set aside any of their own money from each paycheck, and they will still receive a minimum employer contribution from the State. The State contribution amount has increased twice in recent years due to the advocacy of PEF representatives on the Article 10 Work-Life Services Advisory Board. If you have eligible dependent care expenses, don’t leave this employer contribution on the table!
| 2026 PLAN YEAR EMPLOYER DCAA CONTRIBUTION RATES | |
| If Your Salary is… | The Employer Contribution is… |
| Under $30,000 | $1,100 |
| $30,001 – $40,000 | $1,000 |
| $40,001 – $50,000 | $900 |
| $50,001 – $60,000 | $800 |
| $60,001 – $70,000 | $700 |
| Over $70,000 | $600 |
PEF’s Contract Administration department produced a memo with all this information and more if members have any questions.