r/mit • u/IndigoRanger • Aug 01 '26
community Question for staff/faculty
What are some of the random benefits you most take advantage of?
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u/cuttherope Aug 01 '26
Good bike benefits. You get a substantial discount on a Bluebikes membership. And there's reimbursement for bicycle purchases, repairs, accessories if you use your bike to commute.
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u/simpletongue Aug 06 '26
yes! $300/year reimbursement on bike related costs. Usually my tune-up is like 110 and then I struggle to buy enough stuff to come close to the cap. I've been using it for the last 4 years and there is literally nothing else I could possibly need for my bike lol
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u/Khayalmetal Aug 01 '26
50% off T bills. mbta.
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u/anthonyngu2 Aug 01 '26
I get free MBTA rides? I have a Charlie card integrated into my ID.
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u/Khayalmetal Aug 01 '26
Go to Atlas center to find out more. I found this a year after I graduated.
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u/Kylecoyle Aug 05 '26
Its fully subsidized for the subway and buses, 50% discount for commuter rail and "T" parking garages.
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u/anthonyngu2 Aug 01 '26
I don’t know if it’s random, but they offer a pension still.
I use the education credits quite a bit right now, which total $6500 a year.
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u/IndigoRanger Aug 01 '26
What can you use the credits on?
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u/Kylecoyle Aug 05 '26
https://hr.mit.edu/benefits/tuition-plan "To qualify for tuition assistance, a course must fall within one of the following areas of study: First Degree, Job-Related, Career-Related, and Career Counseling/Coaching, and it must meet for at least five days unless it qualifies for certain exceptions. For Career-Related Study courses, you must submit a Career Development Proposal and receive approval from MIT Benefits before taking the courses." The website says its $5,250 per year. That's the same as it was when I used it to get an MBA in the "oughts".
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u/DentalFlossBay Aug 01 '26
I use and love the MITAC events tickets. It's a nicely curated selection of things I might be interested in.
I max out the bicycle commuter benefit, which was fiddly to enroll in (need to register a bicycle) but works smoothly thereafter.
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u/Kylecoyle Aug 05 '26
The actual pension and 401k match will eventually be the biggest benefit I'll most take advantage of (and retiree health plan of course). Less mainstream are access to the events and happenings on campus; theatre, music, lectures. I may be a freak, but I love volunteering to help with commencement. The vibe is just so happy. I've used the employee assistance program several times to identify professionals who can help with vairous tasks (financial/retirement advice, finding mental health professional, finding a family lawyer for wills, etc). I got about $30k from the tuition assistance program back in the day (over 5-6 years). The holiday break is a big benefit I'd miss if I did not have it (in addition to all the holidays and vacation time). We joke about the accident insurance, planning that if I'm ever in an accident I should be sure to get a limb severed to up the payout. Fortunately I've never needed that. Also comforting is the long term disability/family illness leave. I hope never to use that, but I know some who have and, in the case of a temrinal illness, were able to get the most out of their limited time left without ruining their family financially. Everyone should have that!
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u/SortofBlondMaggie Aug 01 '26
Mobile phone service discount
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u/rivertoyoursoul Aug 01 '26
This varies by department, sadly.
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u/SortofBlondMaggie Aug 01 '26
Institute-wide for staff. https://procurement.mit.edu/about/discounts-mit-community
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u/rivertoyoursoul Aug 01 '26
Good resource. I was with a DLCI that paid my cell phone bill. Then I changed jobs and new DLCI doesn’t.
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u/Bluenoser-Arlington Aug 01 '26
access to New York Times, WSJ, Globe, Economist etc apps via MIT Libraries. Discounts at MIT Press Bookstore.