Employee Benefits Platform | Flexible Benefits & Employee Retention

The problem

Student debt follows your team to work

Balances keep growing, payments keep landing and support at work hasn't caught up with real life. The pressure doesn't stay at home. It shows up at work, and eventually it walks out the door.

$1.7 trillion

in federal student loans, owed by 42.6 million Americans

Federal Student Aid, March 2026

10.3%

of student loan balances are 90 or more days delinquent

New York Fed, Q1 2026

0.5–2×

an employee's annual salary: what it can cost to replace them

Gallup

$1 trillion

lost by U.S. businesses every year to voluntary turnover

Gallup

The good news? Up to $5,250 per employee each year can go toward student loans, tax-free, and the rule is now permanent.

IRS Section 127, made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025). Conditions apply.

Why offer student loan benefits?

It's not just a perk. It's a strategic advantage for your business and a life-changer for your team.

Book a 15-min demo

Close critical roles faster

When you offer student loan support, you give top candidates a compelling reason to choose you over the competition.

Stop the turnover cycle

When you help alleviate the financial stress of student debt, your team is more focused, engaged, and loyal.

$5,250 tax-free

Section 127 educational assistance: up to $5,250 per employee each year, free of income and payroll tax, and now permanent.

Easy setup

Direct payments to loan servicers, with compliance built in. We handle the details, so you get the credit for helping.

How it works

You set it up once. SideUp handles the rest.

From cards to compliance.

1Quick to set up

Add your team

Sync your employees from your HRIS, or add them manually. Then choose your benefits, decide when they're paid out and how your company funds them.

2Their choice

We invite your team

SideUp emails each employee an invitation to the app. Once they've completed onboarding, their card is issued and they choose the benefits that fit their life.

3Minimal ongoing work

Manage it month by month

Track spend and take-up, and keep your compliance information in one place. Pre-tax limits are tracked automatically, so you're always ready.

Book a 15-min demo

Mascot: the cat holding the lime SideUp card (PNG, transparent)

The math

Every $100 goes further

The same $100, two ways. One costs you more and gives your employee less.

Paid as salary

Costs you$107.65

Your employee keepsabout $70

Given as a tax-free student loan benefit with SideUp

Costs you$100

Your employee keeps$100

Illustrative: assumes the 22% federal bracket and 7.65% FICA for both employee and employer. State and local taxes vary.

$5,250

a year, tax-free, toward each employee's student loans

7.65%

employer FICA saved on every dollar given as a tax-free benefit

Permanent

no expiry date on tax-free student loan repayment since 2025

Based on IRS Section 127 and 2026 payroll tax rules. Conditions apply to each exemption.

The SideUp MarketplaceOptional

Every dollar goes further. And stays local.

A network of independent partners, there whenever you want it. Local businesses where your team can unlock exclusive discounts and freebies, and experts your company can call on.

For your team

Local favorites, with extras

Cafes, gyms, shops and everyday services near your people. Where a partner chooses to offer it, SideUp members get a discount or a little extra.

✓

Exclusive discounts and freebies for members

✓

Spend your budget with local businesses whenever you like

A Saturday around the neighborhood

The Corner Cafe

$8.95

Marketplace discount

−$1.35

Saved this month

$9.60

Illustrative example

For your company

Experts when you need them

Independent partners who can help you run the business, introduced through SideUp. Where a partner chooses to, they offer SideUp customers something extra.

HR consultingBookkeepingCulture trainingLeadershipEmployment lawRecruitingBenefits consultingPayroll

✓

Introductions to independent experts, no obligation

✓

Offers for SideUp customers, set by each partner

Book a 15-min demo Run a business or offer a service? Join the Marketplace →

Marketplace partners are independent businesses and are not part of SideUp. Offers are set by each partner and may change. Joining is free for partners today.

What is an employee benefits platform?

An employee benefits platform is software that lets employers offer, manage, and administer a range of benefits, like flexible spending, recognition, and financial wellness, in one place, and lets employees choose and use the benefits that matter to them.

How do flexible employee benefits work?

Instead of one fixed package for everyone, employees get an allowance they can allocate across categories like wellness, family care, commuting, or student loans, based on what actually fits their life.

Can employees choose their own benefits?

Yes. With SideUp, employees pick from a menu of eligible categories and vendors rather than being locked into a single, one-size-fits-all benefit.

How does the tax-free student loan benefit work?

Employers can provide up to $5,250 per employee each year in student loan repayment or educational assistance, free of income and payroll tax, under IRS Section 127. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the student loan provision permanent in 2025 and indexes the limit for inflation after 2026. Conditions apply, so confirm your plan with your tax advisor.

Are employee benefits taxable?

Some are and some aren't; it depends on the benefit type. Certain categories, like qualifying student loan assistance, can be offered tax-free up to IRS limits, while others are treated as taxable income. Our benefit pages explain each rule in plain English, and they're a summary, not tax advice.

How does SideUp integrate with payroll?

SideUp connects with common payroll and HRIS systems so benefit allowances, deductions, and reporting sync automatically, with no manual reconciliation required.

How quickly can we go live?

Quickly. How long it takes depends on your company, but it comes down to three things: setting up enrollment, uploading your employees, and communicating the program to your team in the right way.

Can employers offer different benefits to different employees?

Yes. SideUp supports eligibility rules by role, location, tenure, or employment type, so benefits can flex to fit different segments of your workforce.

What is the SideUp Marketplace?

A network of independent partners. Local businesses such as cafes, gyms and shops can offer SideUp members discounts and freebies, and experts such as HR consultants, bookkeepers and training providers are available to your company. It's an optional extra, so you and your team use it as much or as little as you like. Each partner is an independent business and sets its own offers.

Stop losing talent. Start helping with student debt