Life happens. CBP understands that some things are beyond your control, leaving you in need of backup child, adult, elder, pet, or even self-care in order to work. Help is available with the CBP Backup Care Program, allowing you to access high-quality care at an affordable cost.
The Backup Care Program offers employees temporary care for a child, adult, elder, or pet when an employee is scheduled to work and their regular care arrangements are disrupted either unexpectedly or expectedly. An employee may also utilize BUC for themselves if recovering from an illness, surgery, or medical condition.
When to use Backup Care
Backup care might be needed when you need to work but:
- Your child’s school or daycare is closed (holidays, inclement weather, summer, etc.),
- Your regular adult, childcare, or eldercare arrangements fall through,
- Your child/spouse/parent/pet is mildly ill or injured and needs assistance at home while you work,
- You have official work travel, a schedule change, or working overtime and your regular care provider is unavailable, or
- You, as a CBP Employee, need help recovering from a personal illness or injury in order to return to work.
Who can use Backup Care?
- All part- or full-time U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees are eligible (no income restrictions).
- Employees may utilize up to 10 backup care visits per fiscal year. Backup care may be used for following care needs:
- Childcare – A visit utilized for a minor must be a child (including biological, adopted, foster, and stepchildren) of the employee or a grandchild who lives with the employee.
- Adult or Elder Care - A visit utilized for any family member (either by blood or marriage) for whom the employee has caregiving responsibilities. Examples include, but are not limited to, a significant other, adult child, parent, or parent-in-law, who is recovering from an illness, surgery, or has a chronic medical condition.
- Pet care – A visit utilized for a pet for whom the employee has caregiving responsibilities. Examples include, but are not limited to, a dog, cat, bird, or other domestic animal.
- Self-care – A visit utilized by a CBP employee for themselves as they recover at home from an illness, surgery, or medical condition.
How to use Backup Care
- To utilize Backup Care, employees need to be in “work status” on the date for which the care visit is requested. Backup Care visits are to be used in lieu of taking leave.
- Please note: A self-care visit for an injured or ill employee does not have this requirement.
- All visits must be preauthorized by LifeCare
- Employees have the option to choose in-home or in-center based care.
- Backup care visits can be arranged and scheduled with LifeCare up to 30 days in advance or same-day utilizing the three care options below:
- In-Network Licensed Care is care requested and arranged through LifeCare. LifeCare partners with a national network of licensed health care agencies, providers, and care centers. The full cost of care is paid by LifeCare directly to the care provider, employees pay a $20 copay per visit at the time of request.
- Out-of-Network Licensed Care is care requested through LifeCare, however employees have the flexibility to arrange care directly with a licensed program, childcare center, or day camp. After care takes place employees submit for reimbursement with LifeCare for the full cost of care.
- Unlicensed Personal Network is care requested through LifeCare, however employees have the flexibility to arrange care directly with an unlicensed care provider within their personal network (babysitter, neighbor, extended family, dog walker, etc.). After care takes place employees submit for reimbursement with LifeCare for the cost of care up to a $75 maximum. An employee’s partner/spouse or a child’s parent/guardian cannot be paid as an Unlicensed Personal Network BUC Provider.
- For Out-of-Network Licensed and Unlicensed Personal Network Care, employees must submit for reimbursement within 30 days of the care taking place. BUC payments to providers (Out-of-Network Licensed and Unlicensed Personal Network Care) must be by check or via electronic means, proof of payment is required for reimbursement. Employees may be required to submit proof of payment. For more information or to schedule backup care, please go to CBPBackupCare.com or call 1-844-222-5871. Backup Care Specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.