Riders Alliance Pushes For Legislation To Give Workers Pre-Tax Transit Benefits

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- An effort is underway in New York to push legislation that could save straphangers hundreds of dollars a year.

Listen to Riders Alliance Pushes For Legislation To Give Workers Pre-Tax Transit Benefits

Currently, employers can voluntarily offer pre-tax transit benefits that set aside up to $130 a month from workers' pay checks to use on things like subways and buses, WCBS 880's Jim Smith explained.

Not everyone can take advantage of such programs.

"The problem is you can only access that savings if your employer provides it as a benefit," explained, Rebecca Bailin, Riders Alliance.

Bailin said that the Riders Alliance has been trying to rally commuters to get behind legislation in the City Council that would require companies with 20 or more employees to offer the benefit.

"It's really no burden for them and it even saves them money on payroll taxes," Bailin said.

The group estimates that the bill would open up the program to more than 600,000 additional workers, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars a year.

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