Glossary of Marketing Terms
View GlossariesLifestyle Spending Account
Lifestyle spending account is used to promote a balanced lifestyle, improve employee satisfaction, and ultimately, increase productivity in the workplace. It’s a modern approach to employee benefits that recognizes the diverse needs and interests of today’s workforce.
Whether it’s for a gym membership, a cooking class, or a family vacation, a Lifestyle Spending Account provides the means to invest in what truly matters to each individual. It’s not just about spending; it’s about investing in one’s wellbeing and happiness.
What is lifestyle spending account?
A lifestyle spending account (LSA) is an employer-provided benefit program designed to help employees cover a variety of expenses related to their well-being. Unlike traditional benefits like health insurance, LSAs are typically used for discretionary spending.
What are the benefits of lifestyle spending account?
Here are the key benefits of Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) for employees:
1. Financial advantages
- Increased take-home pay: Contributing pre-tax dollars to the LSA (if offered) reduces your taxable income, potentially putting more money in your pocket each paycheck.
- Tax savings on expenses: Using the LSA for qualified expenses allows you to save money on taxes compared to paying for them out-of-pocket with after-tax dollars.
2. Improved employee well-being
- Financial wellness support: LSAs can help you manage budgeting for various lifestyle needs, promoting better financial well-being by allowing you to set aside funds for specific goals like fitness classes or childcare.
- More flexibility: Compared to accounts like FSAs (focused on healthcare), LSAs offer a wider range of eligible expenses, allowing you to prioritize things that enhance your overall well-being. This could include gym memberships, mental health services, or professional development courses.
3. Enhanced employee satisfaction
- Valuable perk: Offering LSAs demonstrates that employers care about employee well-being beyond just health insurance. This can be a valuable perk that boosts employee satisfaction and morale.
- Attracting and retaining talent: In today's competitive job market, LSAs can be an attractive benefit that helps employers stand out and attract top talent.
What are the key differences between a lifestyle spending account and health savings account?
Lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are both financial tools designed to help individuals manage expenses, but they have different focuses and purposes:
1. Purpose
- Health savings account (HSA): Primarily used for qualified medical expenses. HSAs are typically paired with high-deductible health insurance plans (HDHPs) and offer tax advantages.
- Lifestyle spending account (LSA): Geared towards general lifestyle expenses, such as wellness programs, gym memberships, childcare expenses, commuter costs, and more. LSAs are often provided by employers as part of their benefits package.
2. Tax benefits
- Health savings account: Contributions to an HSA are tax-deductible (or pre-tax if made through payroll deductions), and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free.
- Lifestyle spending account: Contributions to an LSA may or may not be tax-deductible, depending on the employer's plan. Withdrawals for eligible expenses are typically tax-free.
3. Eligibility
- Health savings account: To qualify for an HSA, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and cannot be covered by other health insurance that is not an HDHP.
- Lifestyle spending account: Eligibility criteria for LSAs can vary by employer, and they may offer LSAs to all employees or only certain groups.
4. Rolling over funds
- Health savings account: Funds in a health savings account roll over from year to year and accumulate over time. There's no "use it or lose it" rule.
- Lifestyle spending account: The rules for rolling over funds in lifestyle spending accounts depend on the employer's plan. Some may allow funds to roll over, while others may have a "use it or lose it" policy where unspent funds are forfeited at the end of the plan year or another specified period.
5. Usage
- Health savings account: Funds in an HSA can only be used for qualified medical expenses, as defined by the IRS. These expenses include things like doctor visits, prescription medications, dental care, and certain medical devices.
- Lifestyle spending account: Funds in an LSA can be used for a wider range of expenses, including wellness programs, fitness expenses, childcare, commuting costs, and other qualifying expenses as defined by the employer's plan.
Why should an organization offer a lifestyle spending account?
Here are several reasons why organizations should consider offering Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) as an employee benefit:
1. Enhanced employee well-being
- Financial wellness: Lifestyle spending accounts empower employees to manage their budget for expenses related to health and wellness, professional development, and even dependent care. This can reduce financial stress and contribute to overall well-being.
- Increased flexibility: Unlike traditional benefits with set guidelines, LSAs offer employees more control over how they spend their allocated funds on expenses that matter most to them.
2. Improved employee satisfaction and morale
- Valuable perk: By offering lifestyle spending accounts, organizations demonstrate a commitment to employee well-being beyond just health insurance. This can be a significant perk that boosts employee satisfaction and morale.
- Attracting and retaining top talent: In today's competitive job market, LSAs can be an attractive benefit that helps organizations stand out and attract top talent who value flexibility and support for their overall well-being.
3. Potential cost benefits for employers
- Tax advantages: Employer contributions to LSAs are generally tax-deductible for the business.
- Improved productivity and retention: Employees who feel valued and supported by their employers tend to be more productive and have lower turnover rates, potentially leading to cost savings for the organization.
4. Strategic considerations
- Plan design: Organizations can customize the LSA plan to fit their budget and company culture. This includes defining eligible expenses, contribution amounts, and potential employee contribution options.
- Communication: Clearly communicate the LSA program details and benefits to employees to ensure they understand how to utilize the account effectively.
What are the drawbacks of a lifestyle spending account?
Here's a breakdown of the drawbacks of Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) to consider for both employers and employees:
1. Drawbacks for employees
- Limited tax advantage: Unlike HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) with strong tax advantages, contributions to LSAs may or may not be pre-tax depending on the plan design. Additionally, some plans have a "use-it-or-lose-it" policy, meaning any unused funds at the end of the year are forfeited.
- Specificity of plans: There's no universal standard for LSAs. Eligible expenses vary depending on each employer's plan design. This can limit the account's flexibility compared to how you use your money.
- Potential for administrative burden: Employees need to stay informed about their plan's specifics, track qualified expenses with receipts, and submit claims for reimbursement. This can add an administrative burden, especially if the plan has complex rules.
2. Drawbacks for employers
- Cost considerations: Funding lifestyle spending accounts adds to an organization's overall benefits budget. Employers need to determine the contribution amount per employee or establish a tiered system based on factors like salary or position.
- Plan design and management: Designing and managing an LSA program requires effort and resources. Employers may need to choose a third-party administrator or allocate internal resources to manage the program effectively.
- Potential for misuse: There's a possibility that employees might misuse the LSA for ineligible expenses, requiring clear communication and a system for verifying claims.
How does a lifestyle spending account work?
Here's a breakdown of how Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) work for both employers and employees:
1. For employers:
- Plan design: Employers define the eligibility criteria for participation in the LSA program. This might include factors like full-time vs part-time status or minimum tenure.
- Funding: Employers contribute funds to employee LSAs. This can be a set annual amount per employee, or a tiered system based on salary or position. Some plans may allow employee contributions as well (often pre-tax).
- Account management: Employers may choose a third-party administrator to handle account management or manage it internally.
- Tax benefits: Employer contributions to LSAs are generally tax-deductible for the business.
2. For employees:
- Enrollment: Employees who meet the eligibility criteria can choose to participate in the LSA program during their employer's enrollment period.
- Funding: Employees may have the option to contribute pre-tax dollars to their LSA and the employer contribution (depending on the plan design).
- Expense tracking: Employees keep track of qualified expenses throughout the year using receipts or statements.
- Reimbursement: Employees submit claims for qualified expenses through the LSA platform or administrator. Reimbursements are typically made via direct deposit or debit card depending on the plan.
- Tax implications: The tax treatment of LSAs can vary depending on the plan and how you use the funds. In most cases, contributions are taxed, but qualified expenses reimbursed through the LSA are typically not taxed.
- Use-it-or-lose-it: Unlike HSAs (Health Savings Accounts) where funds roll over year-to-year, some LSA plans may have a "use-it-or-lose-it" policy, meaning any unused funds at the end of the plan year are forfeited. It's important to check your employer's specific plan details.
Resources & Blogs
No items found.
Quick Links
Reward solutions
Branded gift cards
Gift cards by use case
Gift cards by persona
Gift cards by occassion
Top 10 gift cards
Gift cards from global brands
Guides
Glossaries
njnjn
Top articles
Calculators
