Childcare Subsidy

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MyChoice Accounts is our new vendor for the Childcare Subsidy plan.

Childcare Subsidy gives you free money to help with your qualified childcare expenses. You must enroll each year in the Childcare Subsidy, but you are not required to contribute your own dollars to a Dependent Care account. If eligible, you'll receive:

$250/month if your Annual Base Pay (ABP) is $63,000 or less
$175/month if your Annual Base Pay (ABP) is between $63,000.01 and $99,000

Contributions are deposited into a Dependent Care FSA on or around the first day of each month. Should you choose to contribute additional money to your Dependent Care FSA, you're limited to the same $7,500 yearly limit (including the funds deposited by T-Mobile as part of the Childcare Subsidy).

You will continue to receive Childcare Subsidy funding while on Leave of Absence. However, you cannot claim Childcare Subsidy expenses for services incurred during your Leave of Absence.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive the Childcare Subsidy, you must meet the following requirements:

Be a current T-Mobile USA benefit-eligible employee
Have an annual base pay of $99,000 or less
Have eligible childcare costs
Be working or attending school and, if applicable, have a spouse or domestic partner working or attending school
The Childcare Subsidy benefit amount is designed and intended to be a per-household/family benefit, therefore:
- If your Spouse, Domestic Partner, or Co-Parent is also a T-Mobile benefit-eligible employee, only one of you should enroll for the Childcare program. It is entirely up to you which one of you elects to enroll.
- If you have one or more children, the benefit is the same per household/family.

Plan Details

Overview

Eligible childcare providers:

Private sitters
Licensed daycare centers
An in-home provider, as long as the care provider is not your spouse, the child's guardian or parent, your child under 19 and/or someone you claim as a dependent for tax purposes

Childcare Subsidy eligible dependents:

Children under age 13 whom you claim as dependents for tax purposes.
Disabled children age 13 up to 26 may be eligible for extended coverage. Contact The Benefits Center for additional information.

Plan Details:

If your annual base pay (ABP) is less than $99,000 per year, you are eligible for free money to help with your childcare expenses.
You are NOT required to contribute your own dollars to a Dependent Care FSA in order to be eligible for the Childcare Subsidy funding from T-Mobile.
Once you are enrolled, T-Mobile will make a monthly deposit into a Dependent Care FSA.

Funding of Childcare Subsidy

Tax Reporting

Additional Considerations

No elder care is allowed.
You do not have have to enroll in the Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) in order to receive the Childcare Subsidy plan.
Funds from your DCFSA should be used first before you can access the DCA Childcare Subsidy plan.
The Childcare Subsidy plan is a use or lose it plan, these funds do not carry over.
DCFSA and Childcare subsidy coverage will be terminated on the date of employee termination.
- A terminated employee will have 90 days from their termination to submit any additional claims but only for services rendered prior to their termination date.
Employee cannot exceed $7500 combined employee and employer contributions in same plan year.

Dependent Verification for Dependent Care Accounts

Dependent Verification (DV) is required for the Childcare Subsidy Plan before an account can be opened.
- Example:
  - If dependent verification is not completed until 2/1 of the new year, the funding is retroactive back to the beginning of the plan year (1/1).
  - If the DV is completed within the window allowed, the funding is retroactive to the 1st, but if the DV is not completed and the DV window is closed, and then the employee re-enrolls and completes DV the change is prospective unless it’s related to a qualifying life event.
During Open Enrollment, the DV process must be completed and validated within 45 days from when the dependent is added with an additional 14-day grace period.

Check Your Childcare Subsidy Balance or File a Claim

MyChoice benefits app

T-Mobile Benefits Service Center Site

Manually submit a claim

Timelines for submitting claims

Provider Contact

T-Mobile Benefits Center
Toll Free: (855) TMO-BENS or (855) 866-2367
Hours: M-F 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pacific

For Questions on 2025 Claims

Please reach out to Smart-Choice at 1-800-330-3796.