AmeriCorps Members

Through the AmeriCorps program, members are able to commit significant amounts of time to provide service in the areas of Education, Environment, Public Safety and Other human needs. Members contract to serve between 300 and 1700 hours over the course of three to twelve months.

"Your World, Your Chance to Make it Better" recruiting fair

Member benefits:

• Living Allowance : During the course of their service, AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance to help defray their expenses. Living allowances vary; however, full-time members receive a minimum of $10,900 for a full term of service. Member living allowance is taxed as income, however, it may not be considered income for some federal programs. If you receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (or other federal benefits) your eligibility to receive and/or maintain these benefits may be affected by your participation in AmeriCorps. Check with your local social security office on the potential impact of AmeriCorps on these federal benefits.
• Health Care : Full time members who are not otherwise covered by a healthcare policy at the time of enrollment or who lose their healthcare coverage during their service through no deliberate act of their own, receive health care benefits through their AmeriCorps program.
  
  Minimum health care benefits provided include: a) physician services for illness/injury; b) hospital room and board; c) emergency room; d) x-ray and laboratory; e) prescription drugs; f) limited mental/nervous disorders; g) limited substance abuse coverage; h) annual deductible of no more than $250 per member; i) no more than $1,000 total out-of-pocket per member; k) 20% co-pay or a comparable fixed fee with the exception of 50% co-pay for mental and substance abuse care and l) maximum benefit of at least $50,000 per occurrence or cause.
  
  Most AmeriCorps programs provide coverage for their members through Strategic Resource Company (SRC). (Insured members can call SRC at 1-800-788-6557 for assistance.)
• Child Care : Childcare benefits are available to all full-time members who are income eligible, whose children are younger than thirteen (13) years of age, and who need child care to be paid for in order to participate in AmeriCorps.
  
  Members may use these benefits to pay for a variety of types of childcare such as family daycare homes or center based childcare. The childcare allowance is based on the local market rates established under the Child Care & Development Fund, a federally funded, state administered program, which differs from state to state and community to community. AmeriCorpsCARE requests that caregivers selected by members accept these rates and not charge additional fees for childcare.
  
  Childcare benefits are provided through the NACCRRA (Nation's Network of Child Care Resource and Referral) AmeriCorps CARE. http://naccrra.org/americorpsvista
• Training : Members receive orientation and training through their placement sites and, in some cases, from the ICVS. Trainings are designed by the local program sites and include topics such as communication, conflict resolution, public speaking, problem-solving, organization, management, etc. In addition, service-specific trainings are also available, for example, tutoring programs may provide training on youth development, positive reinforcement, educational techniques and environmental programs may provide training on prairie burns, native grasses, trail building, etc. Many programs encourage members to attend other formal training that pertains to their service. Sixty-one percent of members reported being “very satisfied” with the new skills they learned during their service.
• Career Building : Through their placements, members have opportunities for career skill development. In addition, through their placements, members utilize their knowledge in skills on a daily basis, gaining a better understanding of their strengths as they apply to future career aspirations. Ninety-seven percent of member reported that their chances of finding a job had improved “quite a bit” or “a great deal” as a result of their year of service.
• Networking : Many members, members often are invited to participate in meetings where they have the opportunity to meet and interact with professionals and leaders in their field. Many members take advantage of their service to make connections that lead to job offers after their terms of service.
• Civic Engagement : During their service, members truly become engaged in the communities in which they serve. They receive orientation and training about the needs and resources of the community, and are able to address many of the community's challenges through their service. Eight-four percent of members were “satisfied” with the gains they mad during their year of service in understanding the community in which they served. In addition, ninety percent “strongly agreed” or “agreed ” that they “feel like part of the community” during their year of service. National studies show that AmeriCorps alumni are more likely to participate in community-based activities such as volunteering than their peers.
• School Credit : some educational institutions offer class credit for past AmeriCorps service. In addition, current students may be eligible for credit in the form of internships or practicum for members that are serving in education, human service or other relevant fields of study. Check with your educational institution to see if they offer credit for past or current AmeriCorps service.
• Loan Forbearance/Deferment : AmeriCorps members enrolled in an AmeriCorps project are eligible for forbearance for most federally-backed student loans during their service. For other types of student loans, ask your loan holder if your AmeriCorps service qualifies you for a deferment or forbearance. For qualified student loans, members that successfully complete their service are eligible to have the interest that accrued during their service paid by the National Service Trust. Loans that are in default are not eligible for these benefits.
  
  To have repayment of your federal qualified student loans postponed, members must first officially enroll in an AmeriCorps project, which electronically sends enrollment information to the Trust. Members must then request a "forbearance" from your loan holder, by completing the Forbearance Request for National Service Form (link) and any additional information or forms that the loan holder may require. Members can obtain the Forbearance Request Form through the AmeriCorps program staff. Complete one form for each loan holder. Since there are several types of forbearances and deferments, inform the loan holder(s) that the request for loan forbearance is based on your AmeriCorps service.
  
  Submit the Forbearance Request for National Service Form (available through AmeriCorps program staff) and any other information required by your loan holder to the National Service Trust. The Trust will then process and return the form to the loan holder. The Trust can certify a member's AmeriCorps status, but only the loan holder can determine eligibility for forbearance. Contact the loan holder if you have not heard from them within four weeks of submitting your information to the Trust.
  
  Loans in Default: Most student loans that are in default are not eligible for forbearance. If you have loans that have gone into default before you begin your AmeriCorps service, you can attempt to negotiate an arrangement with the loan holder (or collection agency) to bring the loan out of default so forbearance can be granted and interest paid.
  
  If the lender or collection agency agrees to bring the loan out of default, you must correctly complete and submit to the National Service Trust the (1) Forbearance Request for National Service Form (available through your program's staff) at the start of your service term; and submit to your lender the (2) Interest Accrued During National Service Form at the end of your service term. Your program director may also make these available to you.
• Education Award : members that successfully complete their service are eligible for education awards to be used to pursue post-secondary education and/or to repay qualified student loans. Full-time members are eligible for $4725 and less than full-time members receive pro-rated awards. Education awards are available for use for up to seven years following their exit from the AmeriCorps program and are taxable in the year they are used. For more information on the Education Award, link to our website information.
• Interest Repayment : AmeriCorps members who have earned an AmeriCorps Education Award are eligible to have the Trust pay up to 100% of the interest that accrued on their qualified student loan during their service. To qualify for interest repayment, the loan must have been in forbearance, deferment or a grace period. To have the Trust pay all or a portion of the interest accrued on qualified student loans, the Trust must receive verification from the AmeriCorps project that the member has completed their service and is eligible for an award. The member and the lender also must complete the Interest Accrued during National Service Form , which indicates the amount of interest accrued during the service period. The loan holder sends this completed form to the Trust for payment. Upon successfully completing a term of service and earning an education award, the National Service Trust will pay, on behalf of the borrower, all or a portion of the interest that accrued on a qualified student loan* during the member's term of national service.
  
  The Trust WILL NOT pay interest on qualified student loans if a member fails to complete their term of service. Exceptions will be made only if members fail to complete their term of service for compelling personal circumstances and are eligible to receive a pro-rated award. It is up to the individual program to determine compelling personal circumstances. Examples that might be considered are a serious illness or injury, death of your immediate family member or early closing of your project.
  
  The Trust will only pay interest on qualified student loans, as described earlier. Ask the loan holder if your student loan qualifies for other kinds of forbearance.

Education Award
AmeriCorps members that successfully complete their terms of service are eligible for Education Awards. Full-time members that complete their terms earn $4725 as an Education Award. Members that serve less than full-time or who leave their service for a compelling personal circumstance after completing 15% of their service are eligible for pro-rated education awards. Education Awards can be used to repay qualified student loans or pay for current or future education expenses at qualified educational institutions. Most colleges, universities and graduate schools are Title IV Institutions of Higher Education. To determine if a particular school is a qualified Title IV Institution, search http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/tiv.phtml or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center hotline at 1-800-4-FED-AID. Education Awards must be used within seven years after your term of service has ended.

Qualified Student Loan: a loan backed by the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (excludes PLUS loans to parents), or under Titles VII or VIII of the Public Health Service Act. Education awards may also be used to repay a student loan made by a state agency, including state institutions of higher education. Education Awards may not be used to repay any other type of loan, even if the loan was obtained for educational purposes. Defaulted student loans may be repaid with Education Awards, however, they must meet the definition of qualified student loan. Members are encouraged to contact their lender and/or the National Service Trust to verify whether a specific loan is qualified

AmeriCorps Education Awards can be used to pay the “cost of attendance” for current or future educational expenses towards a degree or certificate at a qualified institution. Most colleges, universities and graduate schools are Title IV Institutions. To determine if a particular school is a qualified Title IV Institution of Higher Education, search http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/tiv.phtml or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center hotline at 1-800-4-FED-AID. In addition, the award can be used for non-degree courses, such as continuing education at qualified institutions.

For degree or credit courses, the Cost of Attendance (COA) is based upon the US Department of Education's guidance and is determined by each school's financial aid office. The COA generally includes tuition and fees; on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus students); and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and, if applicable, dependent care. It also includes miscellaneous expenses, including an allowance for the rental or purchase of a personal computer. Costs related to a disability are also covered. The COA includes reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs as well. COA is reduced for students that attend half-time or less. For specific information on COA, contact your school's Financial Aid Office.

Additional Education Incentives for AmeriCorps Members/Alumni

College Credit for Service
If you are currently a member and a student, you may want to research whether you may be able to earn college credit for your service. Many educational institutions provide credit in the form of internships or practicum for members that are serving in education, human service or other relevant fields of study. Check with your departmental advisor about this opportunity.

In addition, some schools may offer credit or entrance into certain programs of study (such as leadership programs) for past service if you provide a written summary of your service and how it relates to your proposed are of study. Check with your college advisor about the possibility.

Scholarships for Service
Many institutions have scholarships available for individuals that have volunteer service experience. In these cases, AmeriCorps service generally qualifies a person for eligibility for these scholarships. Check with the financial aid office to determine if scholarships are available for individuals with service, civic engagement or leadership experience.

Institutions that Match the Education Award
Schools that offer additional incentives to AmeriCorps alumnae and alumni.

How Can Iowa's Educational Institutions Get Involved
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service Iowa State Office are working cooperatively to encourage Iowa 's educational institutions to provide additional incentives for AmeriCorps members. Institutions are free to develop an incentive plan that meets their goals and needs. This initiative is supported by Iowa Campus Compact.

If your institution is interested in exploring the benefits of providing incentives for AmeriCorps members, please contact the at 515-242-5467.