As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools and child care centers have temporarily closed and spouse’s employment status may have changed. These are qualifying reasons for all benefits eligible employees to either change how much they are currently putting into their Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or to enroll for the first time. Employees who are currently enrolled, may want to decrease the amount in their account, while others may want increase their election or enroll to cover new, unforeseen costs.   

When schools and child care centers reopen, employees will be able to make changes to their account again at that time. Employees have 30 days from the date the qualifying reason occurred to make a change.  

Please email change or enrollment requests to TUBenefits@tulane.edu.  

If you're enrolling for the first time in Dependent Care FSA, please read How the Plan Works and make sure you qualify with the following:

• Dependent care is needed while you (and your spouse – if married) work.
  • If you use an individual as opposed to a facility to care for your dependent, 
    • the individual cannot claimed on your Federal Income Taxes.
    • they must not be under the age of 16.
    • you must have the individual's Social Security Number, which is required to receive reimbursement. 

If you use a facility to care for your child, elderly family or disable family member, please be sure to get their Tax ID, which is required to receive reimbursement.