Dependent care expenses contribute to a significant portion of household expenditures. Faculty and staff can defer income on a pre-tax basis for dependent care expenses by participating in the Dependent Care Account. The limit on the annual amount permitted for dependent care expenses cannot be more than $5,000 per household or $2,500 if married, filing separately. If your spouse is a student for more than 5 months of the year, the lesser of your spouse’s earned income or $4,800. Any claim submitted for an eligible dependent care expense cannot exceed the total amount currently available in your account at the time the claim is filed. 

Dependent care FSA's are "use it or lose it" accounts. Any funds left at the end of each are not recoverable by the participant.

Eligible expenses include:

• In-home care
• Daycare/preschool
• Eldercare/day camp
• After school programs
• Preschool
• Day camp