HUMAN RESOURCES

Inspira Financial, the vendor who manages Northwestern’s pre-tax commuter transit and parking benefits, is changing the process for how pre-tax funds are used to purchase qualified transit and parking. The new practice will allow faculty and staff more flexibility with how they use their pre-tax commuter funds.

The following balances will transfer from Edenred to Inspira. These funds will not be forfeited.

• Edenred Spend Down
• Parking Cash Reimbursement
• Unused Credits
• Balance on Current Card

You will see these funds in your Inspira account between mid-July and mid-August, 2026. If you have a balance in multiple categories mentioned above, they may be transferred from Edenred to Inspira at different times during the transfer period.

Benefits are available on the 1st day of the benefit month.

Commuter transit

You can only use the Inspira debit card to purchase commuter transit passes directly from the transit authority (e.g., CTA, Metra, etc.). You cannot use the card at a retail location, such as Walgreen’s, or a currency exchange. Additionally, you cannot pay out of pocket for a transit pass and request reimbursement from Inspira.

Commuter parking

You can use the Inspira debit card to pay the parking vendor directly. You also have the option to request payment be sent to select parking vendors directly or pay out of pocket and request reimbursement. See the Inspira website or mobile app for options. 

If you were enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account or Heath Savings Account with Inspira in the past 5 years, you would have been issued an Inspira debit card. The commuter benefit will be deposited directly onto your Inspira debit card. Please note, Inspira debit cards expire five years after they are issued. If you no longer have your card, call Inspira at 844-729-3539 after you place your July commuter benefit order to request a replacement card. New cards may take 10 business days to arrive, so please plan accordingly. There is no fee for a replacement card.

If you have not been enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account or Heath Savings Account with Inspira in the past 5 years, a debit card will be mailed to your home address before funds are deposited for your first benefit month. 

You must place or change orders by the 5th of the month prior to the month in which you receive the benefit. For example, for a transit pass in April:

• Must place transit order by March 5th;
• Deduction taken from last paycheck in March;
• Benefit is available April 1st.

Creating an Account / Logging into Inspira

• Navigate to https://inspirafinancial.com/.
• Click Log In in the top right corner.
• Select Manage my benefits account.
• If you currently have an account, log in using your ID and Password. If you do not have an account, click Create Profile, enter your name, address, and the last four digits of your Member ID (Employee ID on your WildCard). If asked for your Employer ID, enter 100398. Complete your registration profile as instructed.
• Scroll to the Commuter Transit box and select Enroll Now if this is your first time electing the benefit or Manage My Election if you have an active election.
• For help accessing or navigating the Inspira portal please contact Inspira at (800) 284-4885 and see Quick Reference Guide for assistance.

The monthly cutoff will always be the fifth of the month at midnight. Enrollments or changes that are entered after the monthly cutoff will be delayed by a month. 

For example, for a transit pass in April:

• Must place transit order by March 5th;
• Deduction taken from last paycheck in March;
• Benefit is available April 1st.

Any new enrollments or changes entered after the 5th will take effect one month later. No refunds or adjustments can be provided.

No. Once enrolled, your deductions and transit program set up will remain in place until you either change or discontinue your participation.

If you have any questions about the Inspira portal or how to enroll on the portal, please contact Inspira at (800) 284-4885.

Several deduction codes will be used depending on whether the deduction is for the transit or parking program or whether the deduction is pre-tax or after-tax. The following descriptions will appear on your pay advice.

• Commuter Transit Before-Tax
• Commuter Parking Before-Tax

If you no longer wish to participate in the program, you must log into https://inspirafinancial.com/ before the monthly cutoff date (5th of each month) and shut off your deduction. If you do not shut off your deduction before the cutoff date you will receive your transit benefit for one more month. No refunds or adjustments will be provided. 

For example, for a transit pass in April:

• Must stop an exsiting transit election by March 5th;
• This will impact deduction taken from last paycheck in March;
• Benefit is stopped April 1st.

The University has partnered with Inspira, a major processor of commuter benefits, to administer our pre-tax Commuter Transit program. Pre-tax benefits can be used to purchase public transit fares or for parking near public transit stations for your commute to and from work. In the Chicago area the program covers the popular CTA, Metra, South Shore, and Pace transit systems.

The benefit can be used for Northwestern locations across the United States, including New York, San Francisco, Miami, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas.

In the Chicago area the program covers the popular CTA, Metra, and Pace transit systems. Also, employees who use the South Shore, the Chicago Water Taxi and other local transit systems will be able to take advantage of pre-tax deductions.

The monthly pre-tax limit beginning in 2026 for transit and for parking is $340. The limits are indexed for inflation and the IRS announces the new limits near the end of the year. New limits will be communicated to participants as they become available.

You may use available finds on the Inspira debit card then you will need to use alternative payment, such as your own debit or credit card not associated with the benefit. The IRS limit for pre-tax benefits in 2026 is $340 per month.