Employee Programs

Commuter Check* is a benefit available to SFSU employees that helps you save on your commute. 

• The benefit works by allowing you to deduct up to $315 (effective January 2024) monthly out of your paycheck pretax to use for your commute to and from work when you use public transportation. 
• The money can be redeemed straight to a Clipper Card or onto a Commuter Check prepaid MasterCard that you can use to purchase your usual transit pass. 

How to Sign Up 

1. Create an account and select New User Signup from the menu on the left page
2. Enter 1095 for the company ID
3. Enter your information for enrollment verification: Name, Last Name and Zip Code
4. Once logged in to your commuter benefits homepage, select “Place an Order” then select Transit
5. Search for Transit Authority Name or enter zip code to select the product needed for your commute. Typically this is Clipper Card or Commuter Check MasterCard
6. Select a transit product to load on to your Clipper Card or enter the load amount if you have selected the MasterCard option
7. After selecting the product you need for your commute, choose from the different recurring billing options.
8. When finished, simply select checkout
9. After completing your order with Commuter Check, please visit the Parking and Transportation office located on North State Drive, Corporation Yard and fill out a payroll deduction form indicating the amount that you have elected to have deducted from your paycheck each month. 

You may elect to deduct up to $315 pre-tax each month. If you elect to deduct more than the maximum allowed, the additional monthly deduction from your paycheck will be processed post-tax. 

For any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Parking and Transportation office by calling (415) 338-2746 or by emailing transprt@sfsu.edu. 

Please note, faculty cannot place orders on Commuter Check for months when they will not be receiving a paycheck since they are not commuting to SFSU during that time. Student workers and hourly employees are not eligible for this benefit. 

*Important Notice: Once funds are allocated to the Commuter Check benefit, they are non-refundable, per IRS Code § 1.132–9 

Please be advised that the Commuter Check Program is a pre-tax transit benefit available to active SFSU employees only. Once an employee separates from employment with SFSU, any funds remaining in the Commuter Check MasterCard account can only be used until the end of that benefit month. You may transfer funds to a Clipper Card up to the maximum Clipper card value of $315. At the end of said month, the MasterCard becomes inactive and the remaining balance shall be forfeited per IRS Code § 1.132–9. 

SFSU participates in the Emergency Ride Home (EHR) program offered by the CommuteSmart Program of the San Francisco Department of the Environment. The program provides a free ride home in cases of unexpected personal or family emergencies for all SFSU faculty and staff who are permanent part-time or full-time employees and have commuted to work by public transportation, biking, walking or ridesharing on the day that the emergency occurs. Employees can take a taxi, shared taxi service, transit or rental car for their ride home and CommuteSmart will reimburse the cost of the ride. 

Detailed information available on the SF Environment Department website.