AmeriCorps*VISTATerms, Conditions,

and Benefits of Service

Term of Service: 12 months, 365 days, excluding PSO training.

Technically, serving 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Member is expected to serve within the work hours of the sponsoring agency with some flexibility.

Can serve up to three terms as a member, leader or summer associate.

Member can receive a maximum of two Education Awards.

General Terms of Service

Entering Requirements

Must be a US Citizen, National or Legal Resident

Criminal Background Check: VISTA requires a background check to ensure

vulnerable community members with whom we work - children, individuals with disabilities, and those over 60 years old - are protected from abusive, predatory behavior.

Required for positions designed to work with vulnerable populations.

We are investigating for past sexual offenses and violent crimes.

Prohibitions

Full and Part-Time Employment is Prohibited

AmeriCorps*VISTA service requires a full immersion in the project and community.

Educational Courses Full-time enrollment prohibited. Part-time enrollment in school is prohibited with these exceptions:

course is directly related to assignment; or course is part of career development plan; or enrollment (6 hours or less) required for Pell Grant eligibility.

Enrollment in school requires approval from state director and project supervisor.

Laws and Policies

AmeriCorps*VISTAs are prohibited from providing religious instruction or proselytizing as part of their duties.

AmeriCorps*VISTAs and project sponsors are prohibited from requesting or receiving any compensation for the services of members.

Additional Laws and Policies

AmeriCorps*VISTAs may not participate in political campaigns or voter registration drives, provide transportation to the polls, lobby, engage in pro- or anti-labor organizing, or take any action with respect to partisan or nonpartisan political activity while on duty or perceived to be on duty as an AmeriCorps member.

Your VISTA member handbook contains a description of the Basic Laws and Federal Regulations.

Leave

Personal and Medical Leave 10 work days personal leave and 10 work days

sick leave per service year. Additional 5 sick days with State Program Director (SPD) approval.

Leave must be approved by project supervisor.

Emergency Leave One week for death or critical illness in immediate

family; additional time requires SPD approval. Corporation will pay for round trip transportation.

Termination

Only the Corporation State Office can terminate or suspend a VISTA. Supervisors can request that a VISTA be removed from their project for grounds listed in your Member Handbook.

Requests for removal will be made in writing to the SPD by the sponsor, and then the SPD will contact the VISTA.

Termination Appeal procedure is in Appendix B of the Member Handbook. (Procedures for deselection of trainees are also in Appendix B.)

Finances

Subsistence Allowance (a.k.a. Living Allowance) Approximately 105% of poverty level, adjusted

for cost of living in your area. Federal taxes are taken out. State taxes and Social Security (FICA) are not

deducted. »You are responsible for paying your state

income tax. Paid every two weeks, not twice a month. Directly deposited into bank account.

Statements are sent to the member’s address. Not considered income for purpose of

unemployment compensation...this isn’t a “job.”

Finances

Earned Income Credit (EIC) EIC is an amount members may be able to

have withheld from federal taxes taken from their subsistence allowance.

Eligibility is determined by the IRS; please see handouts in your Pre-PSO packet or www.irs.gov for more information.

Finances

Income Exclusion:VISTA living allowances cannot be used in calculating

benefits for public assistance programs if the VISTA

member was eligible for and/or receiving benefits PRIOR to

joining VISTA. • Food Stamps/WIC • SSI

• TANF (replaced AFDC) • Child Care

• Assisted Housing • Veterans Benefits

See your AmeriCorps*VISTA Member Handbook for

more info!

Finances

Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (Welfare Reform legislation) Imposes max. 5-year time limit on receiving cash assistance;

some states have decreased that time limit to 2 years.» Any cash assistance received while in VISTA counts

against the state’s time limits.

Requires welfare recipients to work, enroll in job training or vocational education programs Recipients must check with caseworker to make sure VISTA

service meets state’s requirement.

In all cases when dealing with welfare officials, identify yourself as a “VISTA,” since income disregard provisions do not apply to AmeriCorps.

Finances

Relocation Allowance Eligible only if moving over 50 miles

from home of record. Amount varies by locale and need.

Travel to… …Pre-service Orientation. …project site. …home of record at end of service,

if CNCS relocated you at start of service.

Finances

Treasury Offset Program The Treasury Department collects delinquent

debt owed to the US.

The Treasury Offset Program automatically reduces amounts of federal payments made to individuals who have delinquent federal debt. The reduced amounts are used to offset the debt.

Travel reimbursements and living allowance payments are subject to reduction if you have federal debt.

Any questions?

Ask now!

End of Service Benefits

End of Service Stipend ($1,200) or

Education Award ($4,725)

Non-Competitive Eligibility

Stipend

$100 per each month served for a total of $1,200.

A portion is paid in the second to last living allowance payment and the balance in the last payment.

Generated automatically.

Federal and FICA taxes deducted when paid out.

Partial awards allowed only in exceptional cases, e.g., VISTA closes the project, critical illness of the member, etc.

If you have a large Perkins loan, it may be advantageous to select the cash stipend.

Education Award

$4,725 voucher for twelve months of service.

Can be used to repay most federal government-backed student loans and/or for future schooling at qualified institutions.

Federal taxes are owed during the tax year(s) a payment is made from your Education Award account.

Tax reported on a Form 1099 (like interest from a savings account.)

Partial awards allowed only in exceptional cases, e.g., VISTA closes the project, critical illness of the member, etc.

Using the Education Award

Qualified educational institutions that accept the award are Title IV schools - schools where students can get federally-backed assistance, like Perkins loans, Stafford loans, Pell Grants, etc. If you’re not sure about an institution’s eligibility, ask its Financial Aid Office.

Seven year “shelf life”…use it or lose it.

Not transferable to spouse, children, etc.

An individual can only receive two awards; the partial $1,000 award received as a Summer Associate counts as one award!

Receiving the Education Award

1. After service is completed, Trust Office mails the education award voucher to you.

2. You complete the voucher and send to school or loan company. They complete their portion and submit to the Trust for payment..

3. Trust sends payment directly to school or loan company; you’ll receive another voucher reflecting the revised balance, which you can also check online at the CNCS web site.

Education Award

$4,725 voucher

School costs or educational loans

You can switch to the stipend, prior to the end of your 10th month

Ability to forbear federal loans

Stipend $1,200 cash No restrictions on

usage You cannot

change after selected

Percentage of Perkins Loan cancelled

Ability to defer federal loans

Comparison

Forbearance: Education Award

Forbearance is based on “national service.” To

apply:

1. Obtain “Federal Education Loan Forbearance Request” from

the National Service Trust Office.

2. Complete and return to Trust Office.

3. Trust forwards the form to your lender.

Interest continues to accrue, but… Trust will pay interest on member’s behalf upon completion of

service after receipt of “Interest Accrual Form,” sent to you by

the Trust Office.

Members must complete this form and send to the lender. You

will be responsible for taxes owed on the interest, and it will

be included on your Form 1099.

Deferment may be available based on other criteria, such as economic hardship, but not mandatory forbearance based on national service.

Type of deferment will depend on type and date of loan. Your lender may still accept the VISTA deferment.

Accrued interest automatically paid back by Dept. of Education on subsidized loans when deferred.

Obtain deferment form(s) from lender. Complete and return to VISTA Certifying Officer. Certifying Officer verifies and sends form to lender. You can expect your forms to be certified and returned to the

lender(s) in approximately 4-6 weeks. Keep copies for yourself!

Deferment: Stipend

Send Completed Forms to…

Education Award RecipientsNational Service Trust/CNCS1201 New York Ave, NWWashington, DC 205251-888-507-5962

Stipend RecipientsVISTA Certifying Officer1201 New York Ave, NWWashington, DC 205251-800-220-6316Deferments

Forbearances

Consider if you switch…

If you change your End of Service option from education award to stipend before the end of the tenth month, please be aware that it may affect your student loan deferments or forbearances, and that your lender may request that you re-file.

Non-Competitive Eligibility

At the end of a year of service, members have non-competitive eligibility status.

Former AmeriCorps*VISTA members do not compete with the general public if the member meets the minimum qualifications for a federal job.

Members are not guaranteed a federal civil service job. It depends whether there is a vacancy and you have the necessary skills.

Resources for Questions

Ask now or contact your State Office. There is also a comprehensive section on the education award on our website:

www.americorps.gov

You may also call the National Service Trust Office at the Corporation between 8:00-6:00 EST.

1-888-507-5962

If you have questions about Non-Competitive Eligibility, you may contact the VISTA Certifying Officer at:

1-800-220-6316

Health Benefits

Not health insurance. Not an insurance company. A plan with limited benefits funded by AmeriCorps, administered by Seven Corners.

Starts 1st day of PSO and ends at midnight of last day of service.

Benefits defined in Member Health Care Guide (www.americorps.sevencorners.com.)

Does not cover pre-existing conditions, those diagnosed or treated prior to PSO.

Covers only you – not spouse or children.

Most prescription drugs are covered. (See Member Health Care Guide for exclusions.)

Health Benefits

Does NOT cover routine physicals, vision check-ups, dental exams or dental cleanings.

Only dental emergencies are covered. Only for immediate relief of pain.

If you plan to keep your current health insurance it will be the primary payer; all claims should be sent to your insurance carrier first.

If you have health coverage through Medicare or Medicaid, that program will be secondary. All claims should be sent to the AmeriCorps Health Benefits plan first.

The Member Health Care Guide that has been provided to you contains the entire plan.

Health Benefits Card

Seven Corners will send a health benefits card to you within 2 weeks. This card is used for medical benefits and for prescription drugs.

Participating providers can be found on the website at www.americorps.sevencorners.com.

In the absence of a health benefits card, the provider should call Seven Corners to confirm coverage at 866-699-4186.

Prescriptions

Up to a 1 month supply may be purchased from a retail pharmacy.

Up to a 90 day supply may be purchased through mail order.

If you have any questions about health benefits, call 866-699-4186 to talk to someone at Seven Corners.

Coverage After Service – Conversion Option Seven Corners has arranged for a private

insurance policy with Celtic Insurance Company to pick up coverage.

Celtic must receive your application within 30 days of the last day of your service. No exceptions.

Call Celtic at 800-365-2365 for conversion coverage.

This is private health insurance; there is a premium and you pay it.

Injury While Performing Service

Notify your state office and sponsoring agency immediately.

Get the CA-1 (Notice of Traumatic Injury)or CA-2 (Notice of Occupational Disease or Illness) from your state office and fill it out.

Return it to your state office.

Use your health plan for immediate care.

Life Insurance

Enrollment is voluntary.

Premium is deducted from subsistence allowance.

The cost of basic coverage is $2.07 per pay period (+24¢ for every additional $1000 of coverage)

Can be converted to a private plan at the end of your service.

AmeriCorps*VISTA Member Handbook

Your State Office

www.americorps.gov/VISTA

National Service Trust: 888-504-5962

VISTA Certifying Officer: 800-220-6316

Seven Corners (866-699-4186) & Member Health Care Guide

Internal Revenue Service: www.irs.gov

Celtic Insurance Company: 800-365-2365

Key Contacts/Resources