Emergency Backup Dependent Care (EBDC) Program
The EBDC program is a benefit available to all FSIS employees with dependent family members. As with the WorkLife4You and Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the EBDC is administered by Federal Occupational Health (FOH) and available to employees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What Is It?
The EBDC program helps employees and their families find and pay for high quality care - even at the last minute. Backup care is temporary care designed to help employees when their regular child or adult care arrangements are disrupted, either expectedly (due to scheduled closings, holidays, vacations, etc.) or unexpectedly (due to illness, inclement weather, or other emergencies, etc.).
FOH has an extensive nationwide network of licensed and highly credentialed center-based and in-home dependent care providers, such as nannies, companions and home health aides. Employees may also choose to use licensed providers outside of the network in the event that in-network providers are not available (due to location or space constraints) or other caregivers (including friends and family) they already know and trust.
Who can use it?
Coverage is provided for dependent children (infants through teens, including mildly ill) or adults (spouse, parents, parents-in-law and adults with special needs) for whom employees are responsible - even if the dependent does not reside in their household. Employees can also use backup care for self-care when they are ill or recovering from surgery and cannot care for themselves.
How it works
Call the FOH national call center at 800-222-0364 or log in to www.worklife4you.com (new user registration code: FSIS) to request assistance with the type of care you need. The EBDC program provides up to twenty (20) visits per employee dependent, per fiscal year.
NOTE: All requests for backup care must be made through the call center. Requests made directly to providers will not be covered.
What it costs
For in-network providers, employees pay a $10 copay and FOH will pay the remaining balance directly to the provider. For out-of-network providers, including friends or family members, employees pay the provider directly and submit a Backup Care Reimbursement Form, (provided by FOH) for reimbursement up to $100 per day.
This benefit is available to all FSIS employees effective immediately.
