All Heart Home Care Wage Parity
WAGE PARITY AND YOU
Everything You Need to Know About Wage Parity
According to Public Health Law 3614-c and the Home Care Worker Parity Law, as an hourly Home Health Worker employed by a CHHA, LTHHCP, MCO or FI , you must be paid an additional amount of $3.00 - $4.09 per hour in wages, employer benefits, or a combination of the two.
Cash wages may seem more tempting, but Wage Parity benefits are better than cash because they’re not taxable so there will be no income tax deductions – you will receive the full amount based on your hours of eligibility. Also, unlike cash, these benefits are not reported as income so it won’t affect your eligibility for Medicaid, food stamps or other government programs.
Funds in your benefit account are accumulated and carried over from year to year and will not be canceled even after you leave your employer.
YOUR CLARITY BENEFIT CARD
Easy and Convenient Way to Access Your Pre-tax Dollars
Your employer has elected for you to receive additional pay in the form of Wage Parity benefits through Clarity Benefit Solutions.
Your Wage Parity benefits can be accessed through the Clarity Benefit Card.
While your benefit card has a Mastercard logo and can be used similar to a debit card, it is also coded in a way that it only works with certain merchants selling eligible items. You will NOT be able to use this card at an ATM or to obtain “cashback” when making a purchase. Only your employer can add funds to this card.
Depending on the benefit plan chosen by your employer, your card may be tied to one or several types of account below:
- Transit: pay for bus, ferry, train, subway tickets and passes, multi-person rideshare (Uber and Lyft).
- Parking: pay parking fees for parking meters, garages and lots at or near your place of work or at the location from which you take car/van pool or mass transit to get to work.
- Cell Phone Plan: pay your cell phone bill.
- Dependent Care: pay for eligible adult and childcare for children under the age of 13 – daycare, babysitters, au pairs, etc.
- Medical Reimbursement (FSA): use for prescription drugs, co-pays, deductibles, etc. See here for a full list of eligible expenses. You can also use it to purchase eligible items at the FSA Store
- Dental and Vision: pay for dental cleanings, checkups, prescription glasses, eye exams, contact lenses, etc.
- Grocery Expenses (until end of National Emergency): Cannot be used at Costco, Ralph’s, Stop & Shop or ShopRite.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know what plans are included in my Wage Parity Benefit?
You can ask your employer or human resources contact. You can also speak with a Clarity Participant Services Representative at 888-423-6359, from Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm EST.
Where do I get my PIN?
You can get your PIN through the Clarity Portal, your Clarity Mobile App, or through our automated phone system:
Clarity Benefit Solutions Portal/Mobile App:
- Login to the Clarity Mobile App
- Select My Profile on the top right (icon of a person)
- Select Cards
- Locate and select last 4 of card number to view the pin for that specific card
- Select View Pin
Phone system:
(You will need your card number and last 4 digits of your SSN)
- Dial 888-423-6359
- Participant calling about your Clarity benefit account press 1
- If you are a Clarity card holder, please press/say 1
- Please enter or say card number now
- You've entered- repeats card number
- If this is correct press/say 1; to retry press/say 2
- Please enter the last 4 digits of your ssn or ee id whichever is used for your account
- You've entered- repeats 4 digits
- If this is correct press/say 1; to retry press/say 2
- To retrieve your pin press/say 3
How do I check my account balance?
If you registered your mobile number with us, simply text BAL to 97487 to receive your balance information via SMS.
To view your account balance in the Clarity Benefit Solutions Portal:
- Click here if you have already registered at our portal (different from mobile app registration).
- Click View Account Details on the account you wish to review.
- If you have not yet registered in our portal, click here to create an account, log in and click on Check Balance from the Quick Links menu and follow step #2 above.
To check your balance using the Clarity Mobile App, log in and follow these steps:
- Your account/s and respective balance/s are displayed at the top of the app home page.
- To scroll through your accounts, click the Blue Arrow on the right.
- Select Details to view your account details.
What if my card is lost/stolen?
You can log in to the Clarity Benefit Solutions portal or mobile app to report your card lost/stolen and order a new card.
Clarity Benefit Solutions Portal:
- Click here if you have already registered at our portal (different from mobile app registration)
- Select Report Card Lost/Stolen
- Select Yes to issue a new card
- If you have not yet registered in our portal, click here to create an account, log in, click on Report Card Lost/Stolen and follow steps from #2 above.
Clarity Benefit Solutions Mobile App:
- Click on the Profile icon (top right)
- Select Cards and click on the card you need to replace
- Select Lost/Stolen
- Select Yes to issue a new card
- Select Proceed
How do I use my card at the MTA Station?
To use the Clarity Benefit card at the MTA station, insert the card into the MTA machine face up, keeping the Mastercard logo outside of the machine. The card is NOT compatible with tap or Omni feature.
How do I use my card to buy grocery?
Swipe your card as you would a debit card. Single receipt transactions that are $300 and above may be flagged as fraud and declined. Your benefit card cannot be used at Costco, Ralph’s, Stop & Shop or ShopRite.
Why can’t I use the remaining balance in my card?
Make sure that you are charging an amount that is equal to or less than your account balance. It is also possible that you have reached the monthly limit for that benefit plan – please refer to the chart below for 2023 limits:
Parking Monthly Limit | $300/mo |
Transit Monthly Limit | $300/mo |
Cell Phone Monthly Limit | $100/mo |
Note: A single transaction of $300 or more for grocery expenses may be declined or if you try to make a purchase 2x in a day.
Why is my card getting declined?
Please check your benefit plan to ensure that you are using your card for eligible items, and you have a balance that covers your purchase. You can also try to process the transaction as “credit” so that you may sign the receipt instead.
How do I get reimbursed for a qualified expense?
Log in to your account on the Clarity portal or mobile app and choose "File a Claim. Note that Transit benefits are not eligible for reimbursement.
What happens if I don’t use all my Wage Parity funds within a plan year?
Unused Wage Parity funds will rollover from year to year. If you leave your current employer, you will still be able to access the funds using your Clarity Benefit card until it is depleted.