Using your Subsidized Care Benefits & Commonly Asked Questions

USING YOUR SUBSIDIZED CARE BENEFITS 

& 

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We’re happy to support you. 

Please review these guidelines for using your benefits.

How can I use my in-home backup subsidized care hours? 

Backup care benefit hours are intended to support gaps in primary care. For example, if your regular care provider is unavailable, you have an unexpected or overnight shift,  you need coverage during an important work call or for general intermittent care. You can upload your friend, family, or another care provider for care coverage. 

What are the limitations of hours per provider? 

  • There are no restrictions on the hours available in your benefit package if the provider is a grandparent of the child or a provider is between 16 or 17 years old. 
  • All other providers can be utilized for up to $1,000 per tax quarter and up to $2,600 per tax year. This resets with each tax term. Providers are limited in how much they can earn before they are considered a household employee. The earning caps are placed to keep you and your provider tax compliant.
    • The app will track how many hours you can use per provider based on their hourly rate. 
    • To calculate how many hours per tax quarter or year you can use per provider, divide the provider’s pay rate by $1,000 per quarter or $2,600 per tax year. For example, if your provider has a $20/hr rate, you can use this provider for up to 50 hours per quarter. For remaining hours, upload other providers from your network. 

Which providers are eligible for backup subsidized care hours? 

  • A care provider who doesn’t live in your household 
  • A care provider who doesn’t provide consistent care - they cannot be a current full time employee of your family.
  • A care provider who is 16 years or older  
  • A care provider who is not your co-parent or spouse 
  • Providers cannot be tutors or teachers whose primary role is to support your child's academics as this is not backup care
  • Depending on your benefit package, you may be able to utilize backup hours for center-based care costs.

What is considered consistent care? 

Anyone who provides regular care in your home on a part-time or full-time basis. This includes babysitters, nannies, care providers, tutors, pod facilitators and teachers. You cannot utilize backup hours for center based care costs; your benefit covers in-home backup care for care gaps. 

Can I upload my nanny or consistent care provider as a provider for my benefit hours? 

Unfortunately, you cannot upload anyone who is providing consistent care in your home because they have likely met or will meet the $1,000 cap. 

What happens when I hit that $1,000/$2,600 limit? 

The app will automatically track this and you will no longer be able to book that provider in the app. If you have any hours left over, you can upload a different provider for the remaining hours. 

How will my uploaded provider be paid? 

Helpr will pay your provider their full rate through direct deposit on a weekly basis. Please note: many backup babysitters request payment at the end of the booking, so please confirm weekly payments are okay with your provider prior to uploading them in the Helpr app. Helpr will charge you your copay if you have one in a separate transaction. 

What if I hire a nanny through Helpr’s Core Care program? Can I upload them as a provider for benefit hours? 

Yes, you can use some (or all depending on your company’s benefit hour offering) of your backup hours for this provider up to their $1,000/$2,600 limit one time meaning their hours available to you will not reset after the tax term. Hours available depend on your provider’s rate. If you want to hire your provider as an employee outside of your benefits, you will need to pay them their full hourly rate directly, off the app. The Helpr team will be happy to walk you through your options. 

There are several considerations when hiring a care provider that may be considered a household employee. 

Who is a household employee?

The IRS labels full-time nannies and care providers as employees because families determine hours and responsibilities. Nannies cannot be classified as independent contractors. 

If you hire a nanny, for example, your family is obligated to register as a household employer. As a household employer, you are required by law to pay into social security, Medicare, and federal and state unemployment. Nannies and other providers should be paid "on the books" in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. 

We recommend that all families utilize a payroll service, such as Poppins Payroll, to track and manage their household employee. These services cost between $45 - 60/month, but they ensure your family is following all state and federal legal requirements as a household employer. 

Please reach out to the Helpr team with any questions!