University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Enroll in Flex Spending Accounts

Open enrollment is now under way for New York State Flex Spending Accounts, which allow state employees to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax dollars.

The Health Care Spending Account lets employees set aside any amount—from $100 up to $4,000 annually—to pay for health care expenses that are not reimbursed by health insurance or other benefit plans. These include medically necessary medical, hospital, dental, vision, hearing and prescription drug expenses for employees and their tax dependents. Recent changes to federal law now limit over-the-counter (OTC) drug reimbursement. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, OTC drugs, medicines, and biologicals require a doctor’s prescription or directive to be eligible for reimbursement. Other OTC products, such as hearing aid batteries, band-aids and contact lens solution) are not affected by the new law. Click here for more details.

The Dependent Care Advantage Account allows workers to set aside up to $5,000 for eligible child care, elder care, or disabled dependent care expenses that are necessary for the employee and his or her spouse to work.

The open enrollment period for 2011 runs through Nov. 15.

For more information, click here or call the Flexible Spending Account Hotline at 1-800-358-7202.

Custodial services affected by budget cuts

University Facilities has announced that continuing state budget reductions have led to cuts in some services, predominantly in custodial operations, since the start of the fall semester, resulting in visible changes to the overall campus environment.

Restrooms, offices, classrooms, lecture halls, labs, building entrances and exteriors, and corridors are being cleaned less often. Trash removal and recycling pickup also are being conducted less frequently due to a shortage of staff.

In addition, there are no longer weekend or second-shift custodial services, except in support of scheduled special events.

University Facilities is asking members of the UB community to do what they can to help keep the campuses clean and safe during the year.

Faculty, staff and students are urged to try to assist in the UB cleaning effort by using trash and recycling containers, bringing recyclable items directly to recycling bins or disposing of them properly off campus, and reporting restroom issues immediately.

Although University Facilities is making every attempt to maximize existing custodial resources, the campus may notice less consistent service and slower response to customer requests.

To submit a specific Facilities work request, call 645-2025, or submit an online customer service request at the Facilities website.