PCA Benefits 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an eligible PCA employee may take up to how many weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year?
- 6 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 12 weeks (Correct answer)
- 26 weeks
Correct answer: 12 weeks
FMLA entitles eligible employees at covered employers to up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave for qualifying family or medical reasons.
Question 2: If a PCA is injured while lifting a client at work, which benefit program would cover medical treatment and lost wages?
- Unemployment insurance
- Workers' compensation (Correct answer)
- COBRA continuation coverage
- Short-term disability only
Correct answer: Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that covers employees for work-related injuries, including medical costs and wage replacement.
Question 3: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that home care workers employed by third-party agencies be paid overtime at what rate for hours over 40 per week?
- 1.0x regular rate
- 1.25x regular rate
- 1.5x regular rate (Correct answer)
- 2.0x regular rate
Correct answer: 1.5x regular rate
The 2015 FLSA rule extended overtime protections to most home care workers, requiring time-and-a-half (1.5x) for hours exceeding 40 in a workweek.
Question 4: Which tax is withheld from a PCA employee's paycheck to fund both Social Security and Medicare programs?
- FUTA tax
- FICA tax (Correct answer)
- SUTA tax
- AMT tax
Correct answer: FICA tax
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes fund Social Security and Medicare; employees and employers each pay a share.
Question 5: A newly hired PCA who is classified as an independent contractor instead of an employee would NOT receive which of the following benefits?
- Higher gross pay rate
- Employer-paid FICA contributions (Correct answer)
- Choice of working hours
- Ability to set service rates
Correct answer: Employer-paid FICA contributions
Independent contractors pay the full self-employment tax (both employee and employer portions of FICA), losing the employer's matching 7.65% contribution.
Question 6: An employer-sponsored health insurance plan that allows employees to contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses is called a:
- 401(k) plan
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Correct answer)
- COBRA plan
- Defined benefit pension
Correct answer: Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) lets employees set aside pre-tax income for eligible healthcare expenses, reducing their taxable income.
Question 7: Under the Affordable Care Act, employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees must offer health coverage or face a penalty under which provision?
- Individual mandate
- Employer Shared Responsibility provision (Correct answer)
- Guaranteed issue rule
- Essential health benefits standard
Correct answer: Employer Shared Responsibility provision
The ACA's Employer Shared Responsibility provision (also called the employer mandate) requires large employers to offer affordable coverage or pay a fee.
PCA Benefits 3
Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), an eligible PCA employee may take up to how many weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year?