Emergency Backup Dependent Care (EBDC) Program
The EBDC program is a benefit available to FSIS employees with dependent family members. As with the WorkLife4You and Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the EBDC program is administered by Federal Occupational Health (FOH) and available to eligible 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 FSIS 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. FSIS 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?
Beginning in fiscal year 2024, FSIS will implement changes to the Emergency Backup Dependent Care (EBDC) Program, affecting both eligibility for the program and the number of visits it provides. As of Oct. 1, 2023, the EBDC program will be available for FSIS Office of Field Operations in-plant personnel and Office of Public Health Science laboratory bench and receiving personnel for a total of six visits per employee. 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. FSIS in-plant and laboratory bench and receiving personnel can also use backup care for self-care when they are ill or recovering from surgery and cannot care for themselves.
How it works
FSIS in-plant and laboratory bench and receiving personnel can call the FOH national call center at 1-800-222-0364 or log in to www.worklife4you.com (new user registration code: FSIS) to request assistance with the type of care they need. The EBDC program has been funded by FSIS to provide up to six (6) visits per eligible FSIS employee for fiscal year 2024.
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, eligible FSIS employees will 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, FSIS eligible employees will pay the provider directly and submit a Backup Care Reimbursement Form (provided by FOH after program registration) for reimbursement up to $100 per day. This benefit is only available to FSIS in-plant employees and laboratory bench and receiving personnel for a total of 6 visits per employee, effective fiscal year 2024.
