SmartBenefits Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Non-HHS Federal Employees

If your agency participates in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) SmartBenefits® Commuter Benefits Program, transit benefits are provided to federal employees via the WMTA SmarTrip card.

The SmarTrip card is a permanent, reloadable farecard issued by WMATA and is used to pay for work commute costs at the following transit vendors within the National Capital Region: Metrorail, Metrobus, ART, DASH, Fairfax Connector, FLASH Bus, Cue, RideON, The Bus, DC Circulator, Loudon Country Transit, and Potomac and Rappahannock Transit/PRTC.

The following transit vendors in the National Capital Region have SmarTrip card readers installed for direct use:

• Metrorail/Metrobus
• DC Circulator
• Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC)ART (Arlington Transit)
• DASH (Alexandria Transit Company)
• CUE Bus System
• Fairfax Connector
• TheBus
• Loudon Country Transit
• Montgomery County Ride On
• FLASH Bus

If you use any of these modes of transit, please provide your registered WMATA SmarTrip card number and your name entered during registration to your Agency Transit Program Manager for processing.

Prevent benefit delays by registering your SmarTrip card with WMATA prior to providing this information to your Agency Transit Program Manager/or submitting your transit application. Your approved Transit benefit amount will load monthly on the first of the month onto your registered SmarTrip card. If your SmarTrip card is not registered with WMTA, or the SmarTrip card number is invalid, inactive, or enrolled with a previous employer, you will not be enrolled in the SmartBenefits program. Your Agency Transit Program Manager will reach out to you to obtain the information needed to be enrolled in the SmartBenefits program.

The following transit vendors in the National Capital Region do not have Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) SmarTrip card readers installed for direct use:

• MARC
• VRE
• MTA
• Vanpool
• Metro Access
• Amtrak

If you use these modes of transit, you will need to apply for transit benefits with your Agency Transit Program Manager. You will use a GO!card to manage your transit benefits. You can request that a new GO!card be re-issued or use an existing GO!card. Your Agency Transit Program Manager will review your application and submit it for processing. Your approved transit funds will be loaded on the GO!card on the 23^rd of each month.

The GO!card issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Program Support Center (PSC) is a transit benefit charge card that allows cardholders to purchase transit passes, vouchers, or other fare media for subway, bus, train and/or passenger ferry service directly from transit vendor(s) for their commute to and from their workplace.

The SmarTrip card is issued by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and it is another preferred form of fare media. WMATA's SmarTrip card is accepted at all DC, Maryland, and Virginia Metrorail stations and for use on Metrobus route fares.  Smart Trip is also accepted for use on most of the partnering regional bus vendors. WMATA affiliated vendors include WMATA Metrorail, Metrobus, ART, DASH, Fairfax Connector, FLASH Bus, Cue, RideON, TheBus, DC Circulator, Loudon Country Transit, as well as Potomac and Rappahannock Transit/PRTC.

The SmarTrip card and the GO!card are preferred forms of fare media because benefits are automatically refreshed to the card monthly. Additionally, it is more cost effective and efficient, and eliminates the need for monthly distribution of others forms of media.

If your agency participates in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) SmartBenefits® Commuter Benefits Program, National Capital Region federal employees are required to provide their registered SmarTrip card number, the First Name, Middle Initial and Last Name the card is registered under. By providing their registered SmarTrip card information, transit benefits will automatically be loaded and refreshed onto their card on the first of each month. Failure to register a SmarTrip card with WMATA will result in benefit delays and termination from the transit benefit program.

To enroll into the SmartBenefits program, federal employees must submit a transit application. Please contact your Agency Transit Program Manager for assistance applying for transit benefits. Your agency does not support online enrollment into SmartBenefits via the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) SmartBenefits online page.

To enroll into the SmartBenefits program, do not use the WMATA SmartBenefits online enrollment, instead please reach out to your Agency Transit Program Manager.

If your agency participates in the WMATA SmartBenefits Commuter Benefits Program and you work in the National Capital Region and use a SmarTrip card to ride WMATA Metrorail and Metrobus or regional bus services that accept this media fare, please contact your Agency Transit Program Manager to enroll in the program. Once enrolled in the Transit Benefit Program, approved transit benefits are loaded monthly onto the participant's registered SmarTrip card on the first of each month. 

To ensure that your transit benefits are loaded onto your Smartrip card, you are required to first purchase and register a SmarTrip card with WMATA. Please note there is a SmarTrip card set up fee that must be paid with personal funds, as it is not covered by your transit benefits.

Once registered, you must submit a transit application to provide your registered SmarTrip card number and your name entered during registration. Please contact your Agency Transit Program Manager for assistance applying for transit benefits.

If you use multiple transit vendors and, at least one accepts a SmarTrip card, you must apply for transit benefits and inform your Agency Transit Program Manager which transit vendors you use for your commute along with the fare costs for each transit vendor. You will also need to inform your Agency Transit Program Manager if you need a new GO!card re-issued or continue using your existing GO!card. Your approved transit funds will be loaded onto your GO!card on the 23rd of each month to pay for transit vendors that do not accept SmarTrip cards and transit funds will be loaded onto your registered SmarTrip card on the 1st of each month to pay for transit vendors that accept this fare media.

Transit benefits on your registered SmarTrip card are available to you on the first of each month and the funds will be available through the end of that month.

If funds do not reload as expected or if the amount reloaded is incorrect, it is possible that you do not have sufficient funds on your card. You may check your SmarTrip card balance.

Generally, transit funds do not load onto SmarTrip cards if:

1. The SmarTrip card was not registered with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). It is your responsibility to register your SmarTrip card with WMATA. If you purchased a new SmarTrip card, please login to your WMATA SmarTrip Online Account to ensure it is reassigned/linked to your account. It is your responsibility to register your SmarTrip card with WMATA. If you purchased a new SmarTrip card, please login to your WMATA SmarTrip Online Account to ensure it is reassigned/linked to your account.
2. A new plastic or digital SmarTrip card was purchased, and it was not successfully reassigned/linked on your WMATA SmarTrip online account.
3. The SmarTrip card has not been tapped to a target on Metrorail or Metrobus. **Funds are normally delivered within four hours to Metrorail SmarTrip targets and 1 day to Metrobus SmarTrip targets. Your SmartBenefits may be in the process of being delivered to your card.
4. The SmarTrip card was not used frequently and needs a card “refresh”

For a card refresh, contact WMATA SmarTrip Customer Support at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com to process the request. Once your card has been refreshed, tap your SmarTrip card on WMATA Metro to activate the refresh. Funds will be available in four hours on Metrorail and 24 hours on Metrobus.

Your WMATA SmarTrip Online Account will also indicate if a card refresh is needed. In the SmarTrip Card Summary webpage under the Other Pending SmartBenefits section, click the "here" link to see if SmartBenefits awaiting delivery to your card. A new page will display indicating a card refresh is needed. For further assistance with registration or reassignment of your WMATA SmarTrip card, please contact WMATA Customer Support at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com (7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday E.T.).

SmarTrip cards linked to a transit benefit account store funds in two separate "purses":

• Transit Benefit Purse is loaded on the first of the month with your approved monthly transit benefits. Funds from this purse are spent first, before personal funds, until the entire transit benefit allowed amount has been depleted. Any unused funds do not rollover at the end of the month. Funds cannot be used for parking expenses, nor can it be transferred into the personal purse.
• Personal Stored Value Purse contains your own funds which can be used for parking or transit and holds up $300 at a time. Funds may be added at Metro station kiosks or via the SmarTrip mobile app. Funds in this purse do roll over from month to month. You may view the balance at farecard and pass machines, parking lot SmarTrip targets, faregates (only after you have spent all transit benefit purse funds for the month), or online through a SmarTrip online account.

You can check the balance of both purses online by using the Log In function on your SmarTrip account page.

If you frequently use Metrorail or Metrobus or other SmarTrip accepting vendors for non-work related use, you may want to consider having a second SmarTrip card for personal use.

Yes, you can use both a GO!card and a SmarTrip card to pay for your work commute costs in certain situations. A SmarTrip card can be used to pay transit vendors that accept SmarTrip cards and a GO!card can be used to pay transit vendor(s) that do not.

If your transit benefit application was approved to use WMATA transit vendor(s) that accept SmarTrip cards as well as transit vendors that don’t accept SmarTrip cards, then you will have both a GO!card and a SmarTrip card to pay for your commute costs. Your transit benefits will load onto your GO!card on the 23rd of each month and your SmarTrip card on the 1st of each month. However, transit funds loaded onto your GO!card should not be transferred to a WMATA SmarTrip card. Doing so will reduce your GO!card funds for the benefit cycle which can result and GO!card declines due to insufficient funds.

If you manage a GO!card to pay for fares at Non-SmarTrip accepting vendors and a SmarTrip card to pay for SmarTrip vendors, transit funds loaded onto your GO!card should not be transferred to a WMATA SmarTrip card. Doing so will reduce your GO!card funds for the benefit cycle which can result and GO!card declines due to insufficient funds.

A SmarTrip card can be purchased via your mobile device, online, or in-person at a retail store. There is a SmarTrip card set up fee that must be paid with personal funds, as it is not covered by transit benefits.

If you have any questions regarding purchasing a SmarTrip card, please contact WMATA at smartrip@wmata.com or call 1-888-762-7874 (7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday E.T.)

Mobile Device Purchasing

A SmarTrip card can be purchased via Apple Pay and Google Wallet mobile apps for contactless purchases using your phone. To purchase a SmarTrip card through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, please reference the steps found at https://www.wmata.com/fares/mobilepay/.

Once purchased, you must register your SmarTrip card to protect your balance if the card is lost, stolen, or damaged by downloading the SmarTrip app on your mobile device.

Online Purchasing

Complete the steps below to purchase a SmarTrip card online.

1. Go to: https://smartrip.wmata.com/Storefront
2. Scroll down to the "SmarTrip Farecards" section
3. Choose the appropriate SmarTrip Card and click the "Add" button
4. Review the information shown on your "Shopping Cart" and if correct, click the "Proceed To Checkout" button
5. Click the appropriate link according to your status
   1. Click "Guest Checkout" if you don't have an account
   2. Click "Login" if you already have an account

Online orders will typically be shipped the next business day via USPS first class mail. Please allow at least five (5) business days for order delivery.

All SmarTrip cards that you have purchased while you are logged into your account will be registered to your online account to give you balance protection if the card is lost, stolen, or damaged. Only credit card payments are accepted including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Store Purchasing

A SmarTrip card can be purchased at any fare vending machine in any Metrorail station or sales locations (Metro Sales Offices and Commuter Stores) found at https://www.wmata.com/fares/stores.cfm. The website also includes a “Retail Outlet Search” option to enable commuters to find additional locations.

Once purchased, please remember to register your SmarTrip card to protect your balance if the card is lost, stolen, or damaged. Not all retail outlets carry all forms of farecards, tokens, and passes. If you are unable to locate the fare media you need, please contact WMATA.

Yes, when purchasing a SmarTrip card there is a fee that must be paid out of pocket. It is not covered by your approved monthly transit benefit. Your approved benefit amount will only cover your monthly transit expenses.

When acquiring a new SmarTrip card you are required to register your card at https://www.wmata.com/fares/Register-SmarTrip.cfm or through the SmarTrip app on your mobile device to ensure your balance is protected if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged. You can also create a SmarTrip account at https://smartrip.wmata.com/Account/Create or on the SmarTrip app on your mobile phone, which will allow you to check the balance of your card and usage history.

In the instance your SmarTrip card is lost, stolen, or damaged, Metro will be able to restore your lost funds if you have registered the card with WMATA.

SmarTrip cards purchased online or through the SmarTrip app are automatically registered with WMATA. If the SmarTrip app was used to transfer a registered SmarTrip card to an Apple Wallet or Google Pay, the card is automatically registered. A SmarTrip card purchased at a fare vending machine, commuter store, or retail outlet must be registered online or through the SmarTrip app.

For additional assistance registering your SmarTrip card, please contact WMATA at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com.

If you have a physical SmarTrip Card that was registered and it was lost, stolen, or damaged, report it to WMATA as soon as possible. Failure to promptly submit a transit application providing your SmarTrip card information may delay your transit benefits.

To report a lost, stolen, or damaged SmarTrip card with WMATA:

Log in to your SmarTrip account at https://smartrip.wmata.com/Account/ and click Report Card as Lost/Stolen/Damaged, or contact the WMATA office at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com.

If an iOS mobile device with a digital SmarTrip card was lost or stolen, you can restore your SmarTrip card on your new mobile device or you can temporarily suspend your SmarTrip card by logging into iCloud.com with your Apple ID and select the Lost Mode for your device.

If an Android mobile device with digital SmarTrip was lost or stolen, buy a new card in Google Wallet and follow the lost, stolen, or damaged procedure above to transfer your balance. Please visit the WMATA SmarTrip FAQs page https://www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip/faq.cfm for further instructions.

The remaining balance from the time the card is reported as lost, stolen, or damaged, may be transferred to a new SmarTrip for the cost of a new card which is $2.

If you did not register your card with SmarTrip and it is lost, stolen, or damaged then balance transfers will not be available.

For additional assistance with lost/stolen or damaged cards please contact WMATA at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com (7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday E.T.).

If your SmarTrip card doesn't work or it declined, please verify your balance at fare gates, Metro Station kiosks, or online through your SmarTrip online account.

Note that your approved transit benefits load on your SmarTrip card on the first of each month. If you must purchase a pass to commute, please use your personal funds to cover the expense. The Transit Benefit Program Office will not reimburse personal funds.

Your SmarTrip card may also not work if funds were not loaded onto your SmarTrip card. Reasons why funds may not have loaded include:

1. The SmarTrip card was not registered with WMATA. It is your responsibility to register your SmarTrip card with WMATA. If you purchased a new SmarTrip card, please login to your WMATA SmarTrip Online Account to ensure it is reassigned/linked to your account.
2. A new plastic or digital SmarTrip card was purchased, and it was not successfully reassigned/lined on your WMATA SmarTrip online account.
3. The SmarTrip card was not tapped at a target on Metrorail or Metrobus. **Funds are normally delivered within four hours to Metrorail SmarTrip targets and 1 day to Metrobus SmarTrip targets. Your SmartBenefits may be in the process of being delivered to your card.
4. The SmarTrip card was not used frequently and needs a card “refresh”

For a card refresh, contact WMATA SmarTrip Customer Support at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com to process the request. Once your card has been refreshed, tap your SmarTrip card on WMATA Metro to activate the refresh. Funds will be available four hours on Metrorail and 24 hours on Metrobus.

Your WMATA SmarTrip Online Account will also indicate if a card refresh is needed. In the SmarTrip Card Summary webpage under the Other Pending SmartBenefits section, click the "here" link to see if SmartBenefits awaiting delivery to your card. A new page will display indicating a card refresh is needed.

For further assistance, please contact WMATA Customer Support at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com (7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday E.T.).

There are various options available to check the balance on your SmarTrip card:

1. Login to your SmarTrip account at https://smartrip.wmata.com/Account/Login, or
2. Tap your SmarTrip card at a fare vending machine at any Metrorail station, or
3. Look at the fare gate while using your SmarTrip at any Metrorail station, or
4. Login to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay on your mobile device

For further assistance, please contact WMATA at 1-888-762-7874 or smartrip@wmata.com (7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday E.T.).

Unused Transit Benefits on the GO!card or SmarTrip card do not be rolled over to the next month.

SmarTrip funds are reloaded on the first of each month and are available through the end of the month.

GO!card funds are available through the 22nd of the month and reload on the 23rd of the month. It is recommended that you purchase your entire monthly fare no later than the 15th of each month to ensure that transactions post in the billing cycle for the current month.