Commuter Benefits

Reimbursable mass-transit expenses include any pass, fare card, or similar product that entitles you to ride on a mass-transit vehicle or commuter highway vehicle such as a vanpool. Parking expenses must be incurred by you at or near your workplace or an area from which you commute to work or use mass transit, a commuter highway vehicle, or carpool.

No. Once enrolled, your enrollment will continue month to month until you change it. If you want to change the enrollment or terminate your participation, you will need to make the change on the EBPA website by the 4th of a month to be effective for the following month.

Example using total of $500 monthly transit expense election:

Pre-tax: $315 (2024 IRS limit)

Post-tax: $185

Indicate $0 in any field you do not need to fund

Total: $500

Any deduction amount over the pre-tax limit will be taken as a post-tax deduction. For example, if you work on the Medford/Somerville Campus and enroll for a $500 commuter benefit, $315 will be a pre-tax deduction (2024 IRS limit), $185  will be post-tax, and  $40  will be subsidized by Tufts University, reflected in your paycheck deduction.

EBPA Debit Cards are mailed for delivery by the 15th of a month after your initial enrollment. For example, if you enroll by January 4th, you should receive your debit card at your home address by January 15th. You will continue to use that EBPA debit card each month after you enroll.

You can access your PIN on the EBPA WealthCare Portal. Click on the debit card icon and look for the "View Pin" link next to your card number.

To update your mailing address, visit eServe or call Tufts Support Services at 617-627-7000. Your information will be forwarded to the vendor on the weekly electronic feed sent every Tuesday.

You can request a reimbursement by downloading a Parking and Transit Benefits Reimbursement Form.

Or you can contact EBPA at 800-258-7298 or reimbursementaccount@ebpabenefits.com for assistance.

You will need to submit receipts with your request for reimbursement.

Payroll deductions will be taken in the month prior to the benefit month. For example, payroll deductions for January commuter benefits will be taken in December.

• For employees paid on a weekly basis, payroll deductions will be taken in the 3rd weekly paycheck of the month.
• For employees paid on a semi-monthly basis, the deductions will be taken in the 1st paycheck of the month.

If you separate from the university, you can continue to submit paper reimbursement requests for expenses that were incurred prior to your termination date. When you leave the university, your contributions to the Parking & Transit Program will be discontinued. Your EBPA Benefits Card will be cancelled immediately upon your termination of employment. You may not use the EBPA Benefits Card after your employment with the university terminates.

Please note: If you leave the university and do not cancel your enrollment with EBPA prior to the 4th of the month, funds will still be withdrawn from your paycheck for the subsequent month and there are no refunds. If this occurs and you have funds on your EBPA card prior to your termination date, you may purchase an MBTA pass such as a Charlie Card. However, your EBPA debit card will be deactivated on your date of separation.

Once you submit your completed Commuter Reimbursement Form and required documentation to EBPA, the turnaround time for a live check reimbursement is 7-14 business days. If you wish to set up direct deposit, you must complete the Direct Deposit Form and fax it to EBPA. The initial turnaround time for this is 7-10 business days.

You may purchase your Charlie card at most T stations, the Charlie Card store, or by visiting any of the retail sales locations. For information on how to purchase transit products, log on to the MBTA website at https://www.mbta.com/ or call the MBTA at 617-222-3200, Monday through Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. or Saturday through Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Please note: Your EBPA Debit card is not accepted at retail locations such as grocery stores but you can buy a pass out of pocket and submit a Commuter Reimbursement Form and appropriate documentation for reimbursement.

People 65 and older are eligible for reduced MBTA fares with a Senior CharlieCard. For more information, please log on to the MBTA Senior CharlieCard website or call the MBTA at 617-222-3200, Mon–Fri, 6:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. or Sat–Sun, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Under the EBPA program, you need to obtain your own Charlie Card. This also means that if you would like to register for a My Charlie Account, you need to do so on your own. Setting up a My Charlie Account on the MBTA website allows you to set up monthly recurring payments for some pass types (currently not for Commuter Rail) and also gives you “No Worries Protection” that provides coverage in the event of loss, theft, or damage to your card.

For more information, email charliecardonline@mbta.com or call 888-844-0355, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. or Saturday through Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For information on how to purchase or use transit products, log on to the MBTA website or call the MBTA at 617-222-3200, Mon–Fri, 6:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m., or Sat–Sun, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Commuter Rail passes cannot be set up for a monthly purchase recurrence but can be purchased online, between the 20th of the month (when funds are loaded to your EBPA Debit Card) to the 22nd of the month (the cutoff to order passes online to be mailed home on time).

Riders and drivers across all of our campuses can now be connected based on overlapping routes, enabling users to share rides to and from campus, meetings, daily commutes, and more. Learn More About Miles2Share.

Tufts ERH program supports Tufts employees who use low-carbon transportation with a free ride if an unexpected emergency arises. It is “commuter insurance” for those who carpool, take transit, bicycle, walk or vanpool to work. Participants simply take a taxi (through Lyft) in the event of an emergency, submit a reimbursement request afterwards (within 30 days), and Tufts will reimburse the individual for the cost of getting home Learn More About Emergency Ride Home.

Tufts Boston and SMFA campuses are a member of A Better City Transportation Management Association (ABC TMA), an independent non-profit working to address employee transportation issues and improve air quality and traffic in Boston. This program enables you to receive up to 6 free rides home a year in case of emergency, unscheduled overtime, or illness if you use public transport, car/vanpool, bike, or walk to work at least twice a week. Learn More About Guaranteed Ride Home.

Tufts students, faculty, and eligible staff can sign up for Zipcar discounted membership fees and rates for cars to drive by the hour or the day. Learn More About Zipcar

Want to learn about more perks for sustainable commuting, such as biking and carpooling?

Visit: go.tufts.edu/greentravel.