Dependent Care Assistance Program

The Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) allows you to set aside a portion of your gross earnings pre-tax to use for eligible dependent care expenses. DCAP reduces the amount of the federal withholding and social security taxes taken from your paycheck. The annual election limits are $7,500 per household ($3,750 each if married filing separately).

DCAP allows you to save on child or elder care expenses such as:

  • Daycare
  • Babysitting
  • General purpose day camps
  • Pre-kindergarten expenses
  • Registration Fees
  • In-home care for an older dependent living with you

New employees will make DCAP elections as part of their New Hire benefit elections in Workday. As a new employee, your account is effective the first of the following month in which you submit your enrollment. If you are an existing employee, you may sign up during the annual open enrollment period running from the last Monday in October through the last Monday in November, or within 60 days of a special open enrollment event (i.e. birth of baby, adoption). By enrolling during open enrollment, the account is effective January 1 of the following year. In the event of a special open enrollment the account would be effective the first of the following month in which we receive your form.

For graduate students and post-doctorates funded through a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), please see NOT-OD-24-116 (replacing NOT-OD-21-074) for information on addressing Childcare Costs.  Note:  graduate students are not eligible for the DCAP benefits described above, but may be eligible for assistance under the NRSA.  

Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice, nor does it substitute for official plan documents. All information on this website is relayed to the best of the agency’s ability, but does not guarantee accuracy. Please seek guidance from Navia Benefit Solutions or your tax advisor.

Additional Resources

Illustration of two people, one at a desk, the other on a computer screen talking to each other.

Contact

Navigating all the benefits information can be daunting. We’re here to help make it stress free.

Email the Benefits team
Illustration of a man connecting 4, different colored jigsaw pieces together to form a square.

Quick Links

Return to the Benefit Details section page, or open the panel below for more pages.