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How to Safely Return to Work

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This handbook from the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) provides recommendations on how to safely and efficiently return to your workplace as back to work efforts begin across the country.

Using Your Card

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The Beniversal® Prepaid Mastercard® and eTRAC® Prepaid Mastercard® provide you with convenient access to your mass transit and parking accounts. Here are a few quick tips to get started:Beniversal Card Mockup

  • Point-of-sale: Your card can be used directly at approved mass transit and parking merchants that accept Debit Mastercard.
  • Link your card to a reloadable mass transit card: If you use a reloadable mass transit card, the Card can be linked to the reloadable card as the funding or payment source.
  • Pay a bill: If you receive a bill for parking services and the approved provider accepts Debit Mastercard, you can provide your card number to initiate payment.

Buying a CharlieCard

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Need to buy a CharlieCard?

  1. Click the link to find the location closest to you
  2. Pay with your card
  3. You’re good to go!

Reload Your CharlieCard

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Use your Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard / eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard to reload your CharlieCard by adding stored value or adding a monthly pass.

Alternatively, you can sign up for auto-pay to have your pass renew automatically every month. Just enter your Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard / eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard as the form of payment. Through this method, your card will automatically be billed for the following month every month on the 22nd*. If you do not have enough money on your card by this date, you can split the transaction by calling the MTBA (888-844-0355) and providing them with a second form of payment to cover the remaining balance.

You can suspend or terminate auto-pay through MBTA online at any time.

*If there are insufficient funds the card will try again on the 24th and 26th of the month.

 *Please note that the CharlieCard is only valid on the Bus and Subway; the CharlieCard cannot be used on Commuter Bus or Ferry.

Order Passes and Tickets

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Use your Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard / eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard at https://commerce.mbta.com/ to purchase or order passes and tickets for:

  • Commuter Rail
  • Commuter Boat
  • Inner Harbor Ferries
  • Inner Express Bus
  • Outer Express Bus

Paying in the mTicket App

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Through the mTicket app, you can purchase daily rides, 10-ride passes, and monthly passes. Purchasing a monthly pass through this app will get you a $10 ticket discount.

If making a purchase through the mTicket app, fill in the required fields on the checkout page using your Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard / eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard information.

*Please note that mTicket passes are only valid on the Commuter Rail and Ferry; mTicket passes cannot be used on the Bus and Subway.

Pre-Tax Limits and Election Changes

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The maximum monthly pre-tax limit for parking and mass transit is set by the IRS each year.

For 2020 (January 1, 2020 and after) the maximum pre-tax monthly amount is $270.

For 2021 (January 1, 2021 and after) the maximum pre-tax monthly amount is $270.

When limits increase, BRI and your employer should automatically adjust your pre-tax and after-tax deductions to reflect the new limits.

NEED TO CHANGE YOUR ELECTION? Follow the process outlined by your employer to make a change to your election. You can expect changes to take effect in 1-2 payroll cycles (depending on your employer’s process).

Tips

Tip #1 State Taxes for pre-tax plans

Please Note: State taxes regarding pre-tax plans can vary by state and may not be subject to the federal pre-tax maximums. Employees should ask their employer if this applies to them.

Tip #2 Set election for mass transit and parking

When using the Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard or eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard, set your election to cover the full monthly cost of your mass transit or parking expense. This will ensure your card is loaded with the full amount of your expense and ensures seamless card use.

If the amount of your expense exceeds the monthly pre-tax limits, you can have after-tax funds withheld to total the full expense (if permitted by your employer).

Tip #3 Revenue Ruling 2014-32

Cash reimbursement for transit benefit plans are no longer an option based on Revenue Ruling 2014-32, which became effective 1/1/2016. Cash reimbursement continues to be available for parking accounts and vanpool services (when a service provider does not accept payment cards).

Tip #4 Direct Deposit for reimbursement

Get your funds faster and eliminate the risk of mail tampering or theft. Use Direct Deposit.

  • Claims for qualified parking and vanpool services can be submitted for reimbursement.
  • Receiving reimbursement checks via US mail leaves you vulnerable to loss or theft.
  • Waiting to receive a check takes time and requires unnecessary trips to your financial institution to process the payment.

Log into your account at BRiWeb to sign-up for direct deposit today!

Tip #5 CBP nationwide

Funds in your Parking or Transit accounts can be used for work related commuting purposes nationwide, not just in the region where you live.

Sign up for Notification Alerts for your Parking and/or Transit account(s) through our online portal, BRiWeb, or our app, BRiMobile.

Tip #6 Can I use my Parking Account for…

Can I use my Parking Account for…
  • The cost to rent a parking space near my house? NO
  • The cost of parking at/near my workplace? YES
  • The cost of parking at a park-n-ride from which I take mass transit or vanpool to work? YES

Tip #7 Can I use my Mass Transit Account for…

Can I use my Mass Transit Account for…
  • The cost of a monthly commuter pass? YES
  • The cost of the ferries, trains, subways or other mass transit to/from work? YES
  • The cost of qualified van pool services? YES
  • The cost of ride-sharing services in a qualifying vehicle? YES
  • The cost of taxi rides or ride-sharing services (which are not in a qualified transportation vehicle)? NO

Note that at this time, the updated UberX Share and Lyft Share Rides programs no longer meet the IRS requirements for a Commuter Benefit Plan and are no longer eligible expenses.

Tip #8 “Evergreen” election month-to-month

Whether you have a Parking account, a Mass Transit account or both, your election(s) is evergreen.  Your election will automatically recur each month until you make a change or stop your election. Additionally, funds roll over from month to month and year to year.

(But remember, Mass Transit and Parking are separate accounts. You can’t transfer funds from one account to the other or cash out unused funds.)

Tip #9 card as debit or credit

Your Beniversal Prepaid Mastercard / eTRAC Prepaid Mastercard can be used as a debit or credit card.

For credit: Swipe your card and enter your zip code if requested. If making a purchase online or through an app, fill out the required fields using your Card information.

For debit: Once you’ve set up a PIN*, proceed to use the Card as you would any other debit card.

*set up a PIN by calling 855-247-0198

 

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Rochester NY 14623-4277

 

EMPLOYEES: (800) 473-9595
EMPLOYERS: (866) 996-5200

For Employees

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The Beniversal and eTRAC Prepaid Mastercards are issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated and may be used for eligible expenses everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

HSA Custodial Services are provided by a separate financial institution. See your HSA Account Agreement for specific account terms.

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