Frequently Asked Questions
McKinsey and Helpr are partnering to bring you comprehensive care benefits, including up to 100 hours of subsidized care annually with a low hourly copay for in-home and backup center care.
Colleagues can secure last-minute child and adult/elder care services for eligible dependents, including your parents or step-parents, in the event your regular care is unavailable and you need to be at work.
General
You have 100 hours of Firm-subsidized backup care available per calendar year. You can use them for:
- Personal network in-home care: Upload and schedule a caregiver in the Helpr app. The Firm subsidizes up to $12/hour toward your provider's rate, with your copay being the difference. Helpr pays the provider directly.
- In-center care: Get reimbursed for center care for up to $12/hour. Use your own center or get matched with a center through the Helpr app.
- Helpr Network in-home care: Request sitters through the app for a $6/hour copay.
The program offers 100 hours total per colleague per calendar year.
Backup care includes last-minute services when regular care is unavailable, and you need to be at work, such as:
- Children who are under the weather (personal, My Choice provider care is recommended)
- Nanny or adult/elder aide cancellations, vacations, or sick days
- School holidays or closures during the school year (e.g., teacher development days)
- Lack of childcare options while on a daycare waiting list
- Before- and after-school gaps in care time for parents with unexpected long hours
- Dependent adult emergencies
- Children ages 6 weeks and older who meet the Firm’s medical plan eligibility criteria
- Disabled adults claimed as dependents on your tax return
Personal providers can also support specialized care for infants and elders.
Use the Helpr app to schedule:
- In-home care: Select "Book in-home care" to book your uploaded providers or Helpr Network sitters
- Care centers: Select "Tap into center care" to find care centers and submit reimbursement requests after your visit
Yes, backup care can be covered by your benefit:
- On weekends, if you are required to work and regular care is unavailable.
- Overnight, for work-related needs when regular care is unexpectedly unavailable.
You can use personal providers for overnight care or request Helpr Network sitters where available.
Accessing the Helpr App
Yes, your Firm phone is the best device for logging into the app due to its integration with McKinsey Okta. Follow these steps when logging into the app.
Yes, you can use your personal phone, but you’ll still need access to McKinsey Okta to log in. If you experience any issues, contact GHD for assistance.
No, the app requires McKinsey Okta access to ensure accurate eligibility. Only employees with authorized credentials can use the app and access the benefit.
Yes, you can download Helpr in both the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
My Choice: Your Preferred Care Providers
The app uses your zip code to establish the minimum wage in your area.
Yes, your subsidy covers up to $12/hour. Your copay will be $0/hour.
Yes, My Choice providers must set up an account with our payment partner, Stripe, and provide their bank details for direct deposit. Once they have been uploaded to the app, they’ll receive instructions to complete this setup.
No, payments to your provider must be processed within the app to apply your subsidy. This ensures the provider is paid securely and your benefit is processed correctly. If payment is handled outside the app, the booking will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Care with other third-party providers (centers, tutors, programs, agencies) can be eligible for reimbursement.
No, all bookings must be made through the Helpr app to apply your subsidy and ensure secure payments. Payments to an in-home care provider made outside the app, such as via Venmo, are not eligible for benefit coverage.
Payments are initiated within 2 days after the booking ends. The first payment may take up to 7 days to reach the provider’s account due to initial processing.
Yes, search for local providers on mck.care.com. Once you find a provider, upload their details, schedule bookings, and process payments through the app to use your benefit.
Helpr Network
- Helpr Network providers: $6/hour copay
- My Choice providers: McKinsey subsidizes up to $12/hour toward your provider's rate, and you pay the difference as a copay
A Helpr Network sitter can care for up to 4 children. For more than 4 dependent children, two sitters will be arranged.
Search your zip code in the "helprs" tab in the app. If no sitters are listed nearby, you can use personal providers or care centers instead.
No, uploaded personal providers can be used any day of the year, including major holidays, without surcharges and the standard McKinsey subsidy. For Helpr Network sitters, market rates will apply on holidays not covered by your subsidy.
Yes, care can still be arranged at the full market rate. DCFSA dollars can be used for these bookings.
Care Centers, Summer Camps + Programs
Yes, summer camps or centers can be used as backup care if they cover unexpected gaps in your regular care, such as when a nanny is unavailable or a daycare temporarily closes.
Up to 1 week (5 days) of consecutive camp care may qualify for the $12/hour subsidy. Longer periods, however, are not considered backup care and will not be eligible for coverage.
A portion of your summer camp or center costs may be eligible for reimbursement. To request reimbursement, select "Tap into center care" in the app and upload your receipt. For expenses covering multiple dates, create a separate reimbursement request for each day. When approved, reimbursements will be sent through Stripe.
Yes, submit the receipt after your visit.
- Search local resources and talk to other parents
- Online platforms like carelulu.com or mck.care.com are helpful
- Select “Tap into center care” in the Helpr app
The third-party receipt should include:
- Center/program address
- Daily rate and date(s) of care
You can ask your care center camp administrator for an updated receipt format.
Yes, you can choose to claim only a portion of the hours used. Simply input the specific hours you’d like covered for subsidy reimbursement in the app.
Tax
Please note that this information is provided only for your general review. McKinsey cannot provide personal tax advice. Please consult a tax professional for guidance on your individual tax situation.
Yes, the portion of your care costs subsidized by McKinsey (up to $12/hour for personal providers, $46/hour for Helpr Network Sitters) is considered taxable income.
If the total of your backup care subsidies and your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) exceeds the IRS tax-free limit of $5,000 annually ($3,000 for high-income earners), the excess will be treated as imputed (taxable) income.
Tip: Track your Helpr DCFSA spend in the “profile” tab of the app to monitor your usage.
The number of hours you can book depends on the provider’s rate and your remaining benefit hours.
For personal providers booked through the app, we’ll track their earnings and temporarily disable bookings before they exceed the tax threshold for a given quarter or year. If this happens, you can wait until the next quarter to book the same provider or book with another personal provider who has hours available.
My Choice providers booked through the app are classified as occasional or gig-based workers. As a result, they will not receive a 1099 form from Helpr.
No, grandparents are exempt under IRS regulations and can provide care within your benefit package without becoming household employees.
Yes, you can continue using Helpr after exhausting your 100 subsidized hours. Care will be available at market rates, which are quoted at the time of booking. By doing so, you can maximize the advantages of your DCFSA.
If you wish to book Helpr Network providers, you’ll need to create a new account as an individual. However, if you’re using in-home care providers from your personal network, you can continue booking through your existing account without creating a new one.