Lots of employers offer benefits that reset on January 1. Some roll over automatically, but many are “use it or lose it,” especially around paid time off, flexible spending accounts, and year-end incentives. Before the calendar flips, it’s worth checking what expires so you don’t leave money on the table.
Here are 12 common end-of-year work perks to review now.
Paid time off that doesn’t roll over
Some companies let you carry vacation into the new year, but many cap it or wipe it at year-end. If you’re close to the cap, new hours you earn in January might not accrue until you’re back under the limit. Check your handbook or HR portal to see if your employer has a hard reset on December 31.
If you can’t roll it, book a day off, even if it’s just to get errands done. Unused PTO is basically unpaid work if it disappears.
Health care FSA funds
Most health FSAs are classic “use it or lose it” accounts: you have to spend the money in the plan year or forfeit it. Some employers offer a short grace period or a small rollover (often up to $640 for 2024 plans), but not everyone does, so you need to check your plan first.
If you still have money, stock up on eligible items like first aid, OTC meds, and glasses, or book that dental/eye appointment before year-end.
Dependent care FSA
Dependent care FSAs are even more strict. Many of them require you to incur the expenses in the same calendar year as the contributions, or you lose what’s left. These accounts help cover childcare, preschool, or after-school care, but only if you submit claims on time.
Go through your receipts, submit outstanding claims, and if your plan allows, prepay for care that qualifies. Don’t let hundreds sit there unused.
Year-end or holiday bonuses tied to employment date
Some companies only pay holiday or year-end bonuses if you’re actively employed on a certain date in December. If you resign or go part-time before that, you might miss the payout. Read the bonus policy or ask HR before making year-end job moves.
Even small bonuses can help with holiday spending, so it’s worth timing your exit or PTO to make sure you’re still on payroll when bonuses run.
Wellness or fitness stipends
Plenty of employers give a small annual wellness budget for gym memberships, fitness apps, or equipment. The catch is that it often resets on January 1, and unused amounts don’t roll over. Check your benefits portal for “wellness reimbursement” or “lifestyle spending account.”
If it’s going to expire, use it on a fitness app, a new pair of trainers, or a class pass now. Otherwise the money just goes back to the employer.
Professional development or education budget
Some employers give you a yearly allowance for courses, conferences, or certifications, but only for that calendar year. If you don’t register or submit a claim by year-end, you lose it. This can be a few hundred dollars, which is real value if you’re building skills.
Look for self-paced courses or inexpensive online classes you can buy now and take later. Get the reimbursement in before the deadline.
Commuter or parking benefits
If your company still runs a pre-tax commuter plan for transit or parking, some of those funds are use-it-or-forfeit-it on a monthly or yearly basis, depending on the plan. Remote workers sometimes forget about small balances sitting there.
Log in before year-end and see if you can apply remaining amounts to a pass or parking for later months, if your plan allows it.
Employee charitable match
Lots of employers will match your donations up to a set amount per year, but only within that year. If you don’t submit the match request before December 31, you miss the free money. Many systems are automated now, so it takes minutes.
If you plan to give anyway, do it now and run it through the match portal so your cause gets twice as much.
HRA or employer medical credits that reset
Some employers use health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) or give “medical credits” to offset premiums. A portion of that may expire at year-end if you don’t use it toward eligible expenses. Unlike HSAs, these are employer-controlled.
Check your plan to see if there’s anything you can be reimbursed for now, like copays or prescriptions.
Time-limited remote equipment or phone stipends
During the year, some employers give a one-time or annual tech/phone stipend. If it’s tagged to 2025 only (or whatever the current benefit year is) and you don’t submit a receipt, you won’t get it.
Buy the headset, webcam, or chair now and upload the receipt before the deadline. This is one of the easiest perks to lose just by forgetting.
401(k) match you haven’t fully captured
This one isn’t “use it or lose it” in the same way, but your employer match is calculated on what you contributed during the year. If you under-contributed and the plan doesn’t do a true-up, you might miss part of the match forever.
If you can, bump your contribution on your last few paychecks to max out the match for this year.
PTO donation or sharing programs
Some employers let you donate unused PTO to a shared leave bank, but only before it expires. If your time is going to vanish on December 31 and you can’t take it, donating it can keep it from being completely wasted.
Check HR for the form or portal link and submit it before the year closes, especially if your company supports coworkers on medical leave or in emergencies.
