|
||||
| Below are a list of benefits associated with our program. Most of these are meant to be brief descriptions of the benefits. If you should have any more questions about any of the following, please feel free to contact our recruitment coordinator for more information.
VISTA members have a different living allowance than the WRC and SET members. VISTAs receive $833 a month, while WRC and SET receive $925 a month. WRC and SET members have FICA withheld from each paycheck; VISTAs do not. The stipend seems like very little, but members have come to realize that this is a very livable amount. In the rural areas where our members serve, the cost of living is relatively low. Your living allowance IS taxed as income at your tax rate. Living allowance will be distributed on the 10th and 25th of each month. If the date falls on a Saturday, the checks will be deposited or mailed on the Friday before. If the date is on a Sunday, the stipend will be received on the following Monday. WRC and SET members have the option for direct deposit. Direct deposit is required for VISTAs. This is highly recommended to all members, especially those from out of state. If accepted into the program, please inquire about the documents needed to start direct deposit. Some banks are not the same as where you may live now and if you want to keep the same bank, it will be much easier for you to start the process while you are at home. Checks must not be cashed before the date printed on the check. The net living allowance will be less than the gross amount. Deductions are made from each check: federal tax, L & I for injury while on the project, Medical Aid, Social Security and any other garnishes you are having deducted now. Please look into any garnishes you have deducted to see if they apply. We do not know every case so you must take responsibility and look into these garnishes. It will be a short wait until you start receiving regular paychecks (you will receive your first paycheck at the end of your first month of service). When you first begin your term, make sure you can afford to wait that amount of time. Members who plan ahead usually do not have a problem. Please inquire if you have concerns. HOLIDAY, SICK, and PERSONAL DAYS SET and WRC members are expected to serve a minimum of 40 hours a week in order to reach the 1700-hour requirement for the Education Award. Members are allowed 12 days to use as either sick or personal days throughout the year. For each day taken, however, you must make up the eight hours missed. If you take off all of these days without serving additional hours, you will be in danger of not meeting the 1700-hour requirement. You must request days off in advance and you must be on track for reaching your hours to get approved for time off.
"Make A Difference Day", "Martin Luther King Day", and "National Youth Service Day " are service project days that you are REQUIRED to attend. These service projects can fall on a weekend or holiday (MLK Day). Insurance Policy: Mutual of Omaha (Processed by Summit America) Address: 5001 Collee Blvd. / Leawood, KS 66211 FAQ’s about AmeriCorps Health Insurance Policy Upon completing your term of service and 1700 hours, you will earn the $4,725 education award. Those with terms shorter than 10.5 months may be eligible to earn a pro-rated education award with a lower hour requirement. To ensure expediency of Education Award benefits, your Exit forms must be filled out with accuracy at the end of your service term. A maximum of two education awards can be earned in a lifetime. You may use your education award to pay off current student loans, but they must be federally funded. Please check with your loan holders to see if you can use the education award on them. Most student loans are federal but it never hurts to check anyway! Be aware that some consolidated loans can not be covered by the award. Your award may also be used toward future education at any educational institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. The award must be used within seven years of its receipt, although it is most cost-effective to use as soon as possible due to inflation and the rising cost of tuition. It is taxable in the year in which it is used; however, it will be taxed less if used during a year in which you have a relatively low income. Some schools will match the education award, either in part or even fully. More Information on the Education Award LOAN FORBEARANCE / DEFERMENTMembers are eligible to put their loans into forbearance during their term of service. It is a good idea to contact all your loan lenders to make sure you can receive a forbearance for your term of service with AmeriCorps. At the beginning of the year, you will fill out paperwork on each of your loans to put them into forbearance. We highly recommend you contact all your loan lenders to let them know what you will be up to in the coming year. AmeriCorps will pay interest on your qualified school loans during your term of service only if you fill out an Accrued Interest Form at the beginning of your term (This is not automatic). MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT (During Service Term) Members with vehicles may be eligible for mileage reimbursement under certain circumstances. Reimbursement will be possible for travel to and from Friday meetings and major service projects, provided members carpool. Travel to and from sites on a daily basis and travel that may occur during relocation can unfortunately not be reimbursed. VISTA members, however, will receive relocation allowances and can be reimbursed for travel related to daily duties at sites. The AmeriCorps monthly living allowance is not counted as income when determining eligibility for food stamps. Once you have Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) benefits you must do a review occassionally (simple paperwork) to keep your benefits. This is the member's responsibility, not the responsibility of the staff of Intermountain or the DSHS office. Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Website SUBSIDIZED HOUSING (If Eligible) The monthly living allowance of VISTA and AmeriCorps members is not counted as income when determining eligibility for subsidized housing. This means that many of our members qualify for subsidized housing. There is subsidized housing available in some of the smaller, more rural communities we serve or in close proximity. However, it is a long application process, which you can usually only start in person and you can expect a waiting list at most housing complexes. Availability is limited. Please contact each complex for current availability. Check out the list of Subsidized Housing complexes in our area. Please note that you can not rely on subsidized housing to be available in your community. Many members choose to share housing as an affordable alternative. Inquire with your recruitment coordinator or supervisors if you have questions. This is not automatic. All full time members must apply and qualify, including second-year members. Your eligibility is based upon your household gross monthly income. (This includes your spouse’s income and your monthly living allowance). AmeriCorps CARE pays up to the local market rate for childcare (state). You will need the following documentation when filling out the forms:
You may choose a licensed care provider or an unlicensed care provider to come to your home and provide for your child only. It takes three to four weeks to process files. If we have required AmeriCorps overnight activities, childcare is paid for 24 hours/day. AmeriCorps VISTA members may purchase life insurance. The cost of the insurance premium deducted from members’ biweekly allowance is $2.25. If you choose not to purchase and then change your mind while in service, you will need a physical examination, which will be at your own expense. Members may cancel at any time. Life insurance ends 31 days after you have completed your term of service. TRAINING and MEMBER DEVELOPMENT SERVES Institutes, a series of training workshops provided to all Washington Service Corps members, happen twice a year and last for three days each. They are a grant requirement and therefore mandatory. Travel and lodging are paid for. Friday meetings, for member development purposes, are also mandatory. See our section on Member Development to find out more about training sessions we offer to our members throughout the year. |
|
|||