Subchapter 4080
Transit Incentive Program
Section D – Smart Benefits (HQ’s participants only)

• What is Smart Benefits?
• How Do I Apply?
• When are Smart Benefits Effective?
• How Can I Obtain Smart Benefits?
• What Happens if My SmartTrip Card is Lost or Stolen?
• Can My Smart Benefits Be Used for Parking?
• What if I Leave the Agency and My Monthly Benefits Have Already Loaded?

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Related Topics

• Contact Us (all HRD)
• Directives & Ad Notices:
  • APHIS
  • GIPSA
• OPM (Office of Personnel Management)
• Other Issuances & Regulations covering Federal Employees
• External Links:
  • AMS Issuances
  • USDA Directives
  • OHRM Bulletins, DPM’s, DR’s, Personnel Letters

What is Smart Benefits?

Smart Benefits are an electronic way to receive your transit benefits. Your benefits are electronically added each month to your Metro registered SmarTrip card. The SmarTrip card is a permanent plastic farecard that you register with Metro at the time of purchase with your name, address, and password. Employees must also be enrolled in the USDA Commuter Transit Subsidy Benefits Program in order to participate. Employees who ride modes of mass transportation must enroll in Smart Benefits.

How Do I Apply?

To apply for Smart Benefits, employees must presently own or purchase a registered SmarTrip Card and complete the DOT TRANServe Smart Benefits Application Form (PDF) and Form AD-1174, Public Transportation Benefits Application and forward them to your local transit coordinator.

When are Smart Benefits Effective?

New application information (including new intern and new temporary employee application information) can be submitted to DOT any time during the month. Allow two to five business days for processing.

SmarTrip Benefits will be prorated from the date of the signed application to the end of that month and can be loaded as soon as notification is received from your local transit coordinator. Full monthly benefits will be available beginning the following month.

All changes (increases, decreases, or withdrawals) are to be submitted to DOT by the 10th of the month. These will be effective on the first of the following month.

How Can I Obtain Smart Benefits?

Once the application is processed, Smart Benefits participants can load their benefits on a monthly basis any time during a given month when passing through any Metro faregate. Existing balances will remain on the card. Unclaimed benefits do not carry over. Employees may not claim retroactive benefits or future benefits.

What Happens If My Card Is Lost or Stolen?

SmarTrip cards can be replaced by contacting the SmarTrip Hotline at 1 (888) 762-7874. Metro will transfer your balance minus the $5 replacement fee to a new SmarTrip card and mail it to you. You may also go directly to Metro Center, other Metro sales offices and Commuter Stores and purchase a new card. In this case, you will need to contact the SmarTrip Hotline to ensure the monies are transferred from the old card.

For Smart Benefits to be downloaded onto the “replacement” card, employees must complete a new SmarTrip application electing “change” and send it to their designated local transit coordinator for processing. Coordinators may submit requests to substitute a new card number for a broken or lost SmarTrip card at anytime.

Can My Smart Benefits Be Used For Parking?

No, employees must add their own money to their SmarTrip card to cover parking costs. Agency funds must only be used for commuting.

What if I Leave the Agency and I’ve Already Downloaded Benefits for that Month?

You may continue to use the benefits currently on the card; however, you must complete another Smart Benefits Application electing “Withdrawal”, and page 1 of the AD-1147, Public Transportation Benefit Program Application to cancel from the program. If applicable, you should pay back any overpayment of the Smart Benefits for the month (s) AFTER the separation effective date.

To reimburse the Agency for an overpayment of Smart Benefits:

APHIS employees should complete an APHIS Form 94 (PDF) showing the following accounting information for depositing the check: -952 3803 005 - BOC 1285. The first number of the accounting code represents the current FY (for example: 9 for FY 2009, 0 for FY 2010, and so on). Mail the APHIS Form 94 and check made out to USDA, APHIS to:

US Bank
P.O.Box 979043
St. Louis, MO 63197

AMS employees should complete an AMS Record for Deposit (see your coordinator for this form) showing the following accounting information for depositing the check: 996003989 - BOC 1285. The last number of the accounting code represents the current FY (for example: 9 for FY 2009, 0 for FY 2010, and so on). Mail the AMS Record for Deposit form and check made out to USDA, AMS to:

US Bank
P.O. Box 79064
St. Louis, MO 63179

GIPSA employees should complete a GIPSA COD Collections form (see your coordinator for this form) showing the following accounting information for depositing the check: 3AH49989 - BOC 1285. The last number of the accounting code represents the current FY (for example: 9 for FY 2009, 0 for FY 2010, and so on). Mail the GIPSA COD Collections form and check made payable to USDA, GIPSA to:

US Bank
P.O. Box 790335
St. Louis, MO 63179