Transportation benefits program act

Beginning January 1, 2024, many employers in the six-county Chicago area will need to provide their employees with pre-tax commuting benefits. The new Illinois law, the Transportation Benefits Program Act, applies to employers with at least 50 full-time employees in certain geographic areas, at an address located within one mile of a transit service location. The act requires employers to provide commuting employee benefits by law. Here are the geographic areas:

  • All of Cook County; Warren & Grant Township in Lake County; Frankfort & Wheatland Township in Will County; Addison Township, Bloomingdale Township, York Township, Milton Township; Winfield Township; Downers Grove Township; Lisle Township; Naperville Township; Dundee Township; Elgin Township; St. Charles Township; Geneva Township; Batavia Township; Aurora Township; Zion Township; Benton Township; Waukegan Township; Avon Township; Libertyville Township; Shields Township; Vernon Township; West Deerfield Township; Deerfield Township; McHenry Township; Nunda Township; Algonquin Township; DuPage Township; Homer Township; Lockport Township; Plainfield Township; New Lenox Township; Joliet Township; or Troy Township

 

WHAT ARE COMMUTER BENEFITS?

Our Commuter Benefits help members control transit and/or parking expenses and save money. If members commute to work via bus, light rail, streetcar, vanpool, trolley, subway or ferry, or if they have to pay for parking, our Commuter Benefits may be right for your company.

Here’s how it works: The member sets aside money in an account before they pay taxes on it. When they set aside money in a Commuter Benefits account, they lower the amount of income the government will tax, so they pay fewer taxes each year.

Commuter elections are set on a monthly basis. Funds can carryover from month to month and will remain in the account until used. Commuter claims must be filed within 180 days of the date of service.

Maximum Elections in 2024:

  • Up to $315 per month for Qualified Transit Expense
  • Up to $315 per month for Qualified Parking Expense

 

Utilize commuter benefits with the surency benefits card & the surency mobile app!

Surency Benefits Card

  • When members use their Surency Benefits Card to pay for qualified expenses (such as LyftShared, UberX Share, Ventra Ticket, Ventra Card, etc.), the amount is deducted from their account - no need to file claims!

Surency Mobile App & Online Member Account

  • Members have 24/7 access to their account through the Surency Mobile App or on your Member Account at Surency.com.

TYPES OF COMMUTER BENEFITS AVAILABLE

Transit and parking can be offered separately or together depending on your employees’ needs.

  • Qualified Transit includes mass transit, including passes, tokens, fare cards or similar items entitling you to ride a mass transit vehicle to or from work. The mass transit vehicle may be publicly or privately operated and includes bus, rail or ferry. Qualified Transit also includes van-pooling fees in a commuter highway vehicle with a seating capacity of at least six adults, excluding the driver.
  • Qualified Parking includes parking fees at/near your place of work or at/near a location from which you commute to work by car pool, commuter highway vehicle or mass transit.

WHY Partner With SURENCY?

Surency believes that any company that wants to be your partner must have an exceptional understanding of how to make these products user-friendly, easy to understand and hassle-free for employers and their employees. We are confident Surency will exceed your expectations.

Contact us

Interested in getting more information on our commuter benefits? Contact us today!