Adoption Advantage Account
Eligible employees can now enroll in a Flexible Spending Account for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child.
Pre-tax payroll deductions contributed to the Adoption Advantage Account can help pay for a qualified adoption. Although you won’t save on FICA you can save on federal and state taxes (where applicable) by having up to $13,810 withheld from your paycheck pre-tax.
Who is Eligible
Employees of executive branch state agencies or Roswell Park who are M/C designated or represented by:
- CSEA
- UUP
- NYSCOPBA
- DC-37
- PBA-Troopers
- PBA-Supervisors
Eligible Expenses
- Home study and application fees
- Reasonable and necessary legal adoption fees
- Court costs
- Attorney fees
- Agency fees
- Medical services associated with a child with special needs
- Travel and lodging fees
- Other expenses which are directly related to, and for the principal purpose of a legal adoption
Important Information to know before you Enroll
- Qualified adoption expenses are reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to, and for the principal purpose of, the legal adoption of an eligible child including the expenses listed above.
- An eligible child must be under the age of 18 or any disabled individual physically or mentally incapable of self-care and must not be a stepchild.
- You can enroll or stop deductions within 60 days of starting or stopping adoption proceedings. Accounts cannot be back dated so keep in mind only expenses incurred after you enroll will be eligible for reimbursement.
- Pre-tax deductions are not refundable for any reason. You can only be reimbursed from money already contributed to your Adoption Advantage Account. If you are unable to get reimbursed you will forfeit the money back to NYS.
- You can have up to the maximum amount of the Adoption Advantage Account withheld from your paycheck.
- Employees are responsible for understanding the tax treatment of reimbursement under this Plan and for claiming the application income exclusion by filing Form 8839 with their federal income tax return.
- The State of New York retains the services of an FSA administrator to manage the Flex Spending Account. HealthEquity | WageWorks is the FSA administrator for the 2020 plan year.
How to Enroll
Enroll over the phone by calling customer service at 800.358.7202 or complete the enrollment form and fax it to 518.473.3581.
Questions
If you have questions about the Adoption Advantage Account, call customer service at 800.358.7202 or send an email to [email protected].