Frequently Asked Questions About TRIP

Q: Can any employer participate in this program?
A: Only employers located within Cook County are eligible for TRIP.

Q: How can I maximize the amount of money I receive from this program?
A: Incentives are based on each new employee signed up for pre-tax transit benefits. While enrolled in TRIP, your company will earn $30 for each new benefits user that spends $50 or more for transit in a single month. There is also an additional $200 pre-tax benefit startup incentive for companies new to pre-tax benefits.

Q: How do employees enroll in TRIP? Is there a form the employee signs authorizing this deduction?
A: Yes. Employers must complete a .TRIP Verification Form.. This form will require you to document each month.s expenditure for transit for your three month enrollment period. At the end of the three month enrollment period, your employees will be required to sign the verification form to ensure accuracy in their transit expenditures

Q: How does our company administer employee payments for pre-tax transit purchases?
A: Pre-tax transit benefit programs save money in similar ways to other pre-tax programs, such as medical or childcare pre-tax benefits, but they are simpler to implement and administer. Administering your benefits will depend on the specifics of your company. To request more information or receive assistance on how to set up the program for your company, visit the less taxing commute Enrollment page.

Q: How will I encourage employees to enroll for pre-tax transit benefits?
A: After your company has been confirmed as a participant in the program, you will receive your "TRIP Kit". This kit will include information and materials to help you encourage your employees to participate in the program and start saving money on their commutes.

Q: I already provide my employees with a pre-tax transit benefits program. Am I still eligible?
A: Yes. You can still earn incentives for adding new riders to your transit benefits program, but you will not be able to receive the $200 benefit for implementing a new program. Only new riders will generate incentives for a company.

Q: I am currently enrolled with a third party provider. Am I eligible to receive these benefits?
A: Yes. Any third party administer run program is eligible for TRIP, however, you may be asked to present additional information to verify your employees. enrollment.

Q: If I have employees already using pre-tax benefits can I still receive benefits from them?
A: No. Only employees that are new to using pre-tax transit benefits are eligible.

Q: If I directly pay for my employees. transit, will I be able to take advantage of this program?
A: Only employers that use pre-tax benefit programs will be able to take advantage of the program. However, if your company only subsidizes part of your employees. transit, now would be an excellent time to provide pre-tax benefits to cover their additional transit costs.

Q: Can my employees buy any type of voucher for the program?
A: A company can receive subsidies for employees using any form of public transit and any voucher form that provides pre-tax benefits. However, each employee.s transit costs must total $50 or more per month.

Q: If my company has multiple locations, can we enroll multiple times?
A: No. A single company can enroll only once. However, employees at all locations within Cook County are eligible to be included in the program (a maximum of 500 employees).

If you have questions about the TRIP program or the status of your enrollment, please call James Drew at 773-269-4081 or email to jdrew@cnt.org