Health, Childcare and Other Benefits
AmeriCorpsVISTA has many health and living benefits: some are provided directly by VISTA and others by community and other social benefits. AmeriCorpsVISTA service may expose you to some of the hardships experienced by the 36 million Americans who are living in poverty. While these may place increased burdens upon you in your daily life, your host organization should be aware and make allowances for the extra time you may need to spend in seeking care or services.

Because of federal laws, most social services, such as food stamps or childcare, are not affected by the AmeriCorps living allowance if you sign up for them prior to becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. Below is more information on specific social services you may wish to pursue prior to becoming a VISTA—though you probably will still be eligible if you sign up after your AmeriCorps service begins.

Official Health Benefits
AmeriCorps*VISTA members receive health benefits (though not technically health insurance) through the Corporation for National Service managed Seven Corners health plan. In brief, this plan covers catastrophic injury (e.g. emergency room visits) and prescription drugs, but not preventative health (e.g. general physicals). Many questions can be answered on their Frequently Asked Questions: http://americorps.sevencorners.com/faq.htm or by calling them at (866) 699-4186

We highly recommend finding a primary care physician during the first few weeks of your service. Doing so will mean you have someone to turn to when you need to; and is cheaper than an emergency room visit. For a list of doctors, visit http://americorps.sevencorners.com/providers.htm

Alternative Healthcare Options
If you are already covered by a parent’s or spouse’s healthcare plan, you can elect to opt-out of the official AmeriCorps healthcare plan.

Your state may provide free or reduced-cost healthcare for low-income individuals that is superior to or less expensive than the healthcare offered through AmeriCorps. Check your State’s website to learn what health options may be available (look for links to Health): http://www.firstgov.gov/

Childcare
You may be eligible for childcare, but we highly recommend contacting us before your Pre-Service Orientation in order to go over your options. Dependent children must be under 13 years of age and live with you. AmeriCorps’ childcare is limited to $300 per moth per family regardless of the number of children. More information can be found at the http://www.naccrra.org/americorps/

If your child is already receiving childcare through a social service program, you may be receiving better benefits than if your child was enrolled through the AmeriCorps’ childcare program. If you enroll your child through a social service program before becoming a VISTA, your status as a VISTA will (usually) not affect your benefits—thus ensuring the best care for your child.

Food Stamps
As a VISTA, you should be eligible for food stamps because of your monthly income. You may receive as much as $200 per month for food stamps, which can mean the difference between making or breaking your budget. But, your eligibility may also depend on your current assets such as savings, stocks or retirement accounts: usually less than $2,000 but check your local requirements.

A Directory of Food Stamp Application Offices:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/map.htm

They're not really stamps: Most states now have Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards which make accessing benefits like food stamps much easier. It makes it look like just another credit card when at the cash register.

Proof of Income and Service
Contact the Transmission Project (or your VISTA Leader) for a letter certifying your VISTA service and monthly income (or download one from http://my.AmeriCorps.gov). Most public service programs will require proof of income or evidence that you are serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Member. The Transmisison Project can also be helpful if your local social service office doesn’t want to provide you benefits to which you are legally entitled.

Understanding End of Service Awards

When you have successfully completed your service, you are eligible for either (not both):

• $5,350 Education Award to pay for college tuition or pay-off qualified student loans; it expires after 7 years, or
• $1,500 Cash Stipend that is paid as a lump sum in your last paycheck. Simple.

You must complete a full year—12 months—of service in order to receive one these benefits. Except in exceedingly rare circumstances (death in your immediate family, personal catastrophic health problem or the complete dissolution of the Transmission Project) these benefits will not be prorated if you terminate or leave early. All or nothing, basically.

Student-Loan Related Benefits and Eligibility
AmeriCorps*VISTA service offers unique opportunities for any student loans you may have outstanding. During your service, your student loans may be able to be deferred or forbeared. After service, you may be able to use your Education Award to pay-down your student loans.

During your VISTA service, you may be able to delay payments on your loans through either deferment or forbearance:

• Loan Deferment means that payments do not have to be made and no interest accrues
• Loan Forbearance means that you don’t have to make payments, but interest does accrue. If you choose the Education Award, the Corporation for National and Community Service will pay the interest that does accrue on your qualified student loans.

Not all loans are eligible to be paid off by the Education Award. Only qualified student loans can be repaid with the Education Award.

National Service legislation defines a “qualified student loan” as an educational loan backed by the federal government or a state agency. The most common are subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, William D. Perkins Direct loans, guaranteed student loans, Family Federal Education loans, Federal Consolidated loans and subsidized and unsubsidized Ford loans. If you have a Perkins loan, you may qualify for a partial cancellation of your loan.

Call your lender to make sure that you’re loan is eligible for deferral, forbearance or is qualified for use with the Education Award!

You can learn more about Loan Postponements, Interest Payments, and Financial Aid by visiting the official AmeriCorps Website.

Here’s one last reminder: a lot of the preceding benefits can be managed via you’re My.Americorps.gov
account (in fact it is the only way for some). Make sure that within the first few weeks to sign up for an account and login. They will ask for your name and, likely, social security number to verify your identity, and after that you will be granted an account.

However it does take a few days/weeks for your information to be uploaded to the database attached to the site so do not be surprised if it takes a little time to access your account.