Leaving a job — whether it's on good or bad terms — can be overwhelming. There are projects to finish, a final paycheck to collect, and health insurance coverage to change. That's why it's important to remember that your flexible spending account (FSA) can help you through the transition. But the chief question on most FSA users' minds when this occurs is: What happens to your FSA when you switch jobs?
FSAs are employer-sponsored spending accounts that allow employees to contribute tax-free money toward a wide variety of qualified medical expenses. But the "employer-sponsored" part is key, since your FSA requires you to have a job to maintain the account. If you have an FSA when changing jobs, the following checklist can help you navigate the transition like a pro.
Your FSA job change checklist
There's a lot to remember when it comes to your FSA during a job change. Here's what an easy to remember everything you'll want to keep in mind:
- Check your FSA balance
- Spend any remaining money prior to your last day at the company
- Submit all reimbursement claims to Human Resources prior to your last day at the company
Now, the fine print
It's rarely fun to read the details, but when it comes to your FSA, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Here's how it works — during open enrollment (or when you get hired) you can choose to contribute money to your FSA. This is completely optional, but there are a couple unique rules to note:
- The maximum you can contribute is $3,200 for 2024. Remember that an equal amount will be taken out every paycheck depending on your contribution!
- Even though you contribute to the account throughout the year, the full amount is available to use at the beginning of the year!
A reminder about "use it or lose it"
In other words, if you don't spend the money in the account by the end of your deadline, you forfeit the cash (though some account holders have deadline extensions called "grace periods", or the possible $640 rollover). This is crucial to remember if you're switching jobs, because unlike retirement accounts, you cannot roll the money into a new account.
However, you can elect to start a new account with your new employer, even if it's within the same year. Note that your maximum contribution resets when you start a new job.
There are a few exceptions to the "use it or lose it" rule, but for job changes, the rule applies. If you do not use the money in your FSA, you'll lose it. Because of this, it's important to spend the money and file reimbursement claims prior to changing jobs. (In other words, it's time to shop for FSA eligible items.)
Uniform coverage rule
It might seem like the "use it or lose it" rule benefits employers, and in a sense it does. If the money in your FSA isn't spent by the end of the year, employers get to keep it (although it can only be used in specified ways, such as towards the cost of administering the FSA program). But there's a lesser known rule that benefits employees: the uniform coverage rule.
The uniform coverage rule does not allow employers to charge employees reimbursement if they spend more money from the FSA than they contributed.
For example, if an employee chooses to contribute a total of $1,000 to his or her FSA, the full amount ($1,000) will be available for the employee to spend at the beginning of the year. However, the employee will only have $83.33 deducted from his or her monthly paycheck.
So, if an employee leaves a job in February, when she or he contributed $83.33 to the account, the employee can technically still spend the full $1,000 without penalty or being forced to provide reimbursement to the employer. Having said that, the employee would still need to file claims for the purchases before leaving the job.
Now, we're certainly not recommending employees take advantage of their employers' contributions to a company FSA program through the uniform coverage rule. However, this rule stands as a potential benefit for those who are forced to change jobs due to an unexpected life change, or layoffs.
This can offer relief for pressing health concerns — new glasses, appointments, prescriptions — that don't go away because of employment changes.
Enjoy your final day at your job (be sure to submit reimbursement claims before you leave the office though!) and feel good knowing that you didn't leave any of your hard-earned money behind.
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