AmeriCorps VISTA Member Handbook Member Handbook en Español Table of Contents Chapter 1: Background & Purpose ......................................................................................................9 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE .................................................................................................................. 9 OVERVIEW OF ROLES .............................................................................................................................. 11 ROLE OF SPONSORING ORGANIZATION.............................................................................................. 12 ROLE OF COMMUNITY ........................................................................................................................ 12 ROLE OF AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBER .............................................................................................. 13 SUPERVISION ....................................................................................................................................... 14 ROLE OF AMERICORPS VISTA LEADER ................................................................................................ 14 ROLE OF THE VISTA MEMBER SUPPORT UNIT .................................................................................... 15 ROLE OF THE AMERICORPS FIELD OFFICE ........................................................................................... 15 ROLE OF AMERICORPS VISTA HEADQUARTERS OFFICE ...................................................................... 16 Chapter 2: Overview of Your Year in AmeriCorps VISTA .................................................................... 16 OVERVIEW OF YOUR YEAR IN AMERICORPS VISTA................................................................................. 16 BEFORE YOU BEGIN SERVICE .................................................................................................................. 17 CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK .................................................................................................................. 17 DRUG SCREENING ............................................................................................................................... 18 AMERICORPS VISTA ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS AND TASKS ................................................................ 18 MANDATORY ONLINE COURSEWORK ................................................................................................. 19 YOUR SERVICE YEAR ................................................................................................................................ 19 FIRST WEEK ON YOUR PROJECT .......................................................................................................... 20 ONGOING MEMBER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................... 20 CHANGING YOUR END-OF-SERVICE BENEFIT SELECTION ................................................................... 21 TENTH MONTH .................................................................................................................................... 21 LAST THREE WEEKS ............................................................................................................................. 22 AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR YEAR OF SERVICE ..................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3: Serving at Your Project .................................................................................................... 23 SERVING AT YOUR PROJECT .................................................................................................................... 23 PROJECT APPLICATION ............................................................................................................................ 23 SUPERVISING MEMBERS ......................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 4: Training for Members ...................................................................................................... 24 TRAINING FOR MEMBERS ....................................................................................................................... 24 1 | P a g e VISTA MEMBER ORIENTATION................................................................................................................ 25 ON-SITE ORIENTATION AND TRAINING .................................................................................................. 26 ONGOING MEMBER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................. 27 ONLINE RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................ 28 Chapter 5: Financial Support ............................................................................................................ 29 FINANCIAL SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................... 29 LIVING ALLOWANCE ............................................................................................................................ 29 END-OF-SERVICE BENEFIT ................................................................................................................... 30 END-OF-SERVICE STIPEND ................................................................................................................... 30 PRORATED END-OF-SERVICE STIPEND ................................................................................................ 31 SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD.......................................................................................... 32 PRORATED SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD ....................................................................... 32 CHANGING YOUR END-OF-SERVICE BENEFIT SELECTION ................................................................... 32 SETTLING-IN ALLOWANCE ................................................................................................................... 33 EMERGENCY EXPENSE ALLOWANCE ................................................................................................... 33 HOW DO MEMBERS GET PAID? .............................................................................................................. 34 DIRECT DEPOSIT .................................................................................................................................. 34 PAPER CHECK PAYMENT (EXCEPTION ONLY) ...................................................................................... 34 LOST CHECK ......................................................................................................................................... 35 TAXES: OBLIGATIONS, WITHHOLDINGS, AND CREDITS .......................................................................... 36 FEDERAL TAXES ................................................................................................................................... 36 STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL TAXES ........................................................................................... 36 SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE ...................................................................................................... 36 W-2 FORM-STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND TAXES WITHHELD ......................................................... 37 EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT ............................................................................................................. 37 DEDUCTIONS FROM ALLOWANCES ........................................................................................................ 38 RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENT ............................................................................................................ 38 CHILD CARE ............................................................................................................................................. 39 STATE BENEFIT LIMITS ........................................................................................................................ 39 HOUSING ASSISTANCE ............................................................................................................................ 40 MEMBER ALLOWANCES AT A GLANCE ................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 6: Benefits Toward Education .............................................................................................. 42 EDUCATION BENEFITS ............................................................................................................................. 42 2 | P a g e IF YOU ELECT THE END-OF-SERVICE STIPEND ......................................................................................... 42 POST-SERVICE CANCELLATION OF FEDERAL PERKINS LOANS ............................................................. 43 IF YOU ELECT THE SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD ................................................................ 44 OVERVIEW OF SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD.................................................................. 44 NATIONAL SERVICE TRUST .................................................................................................................. 45 EDUCATION AWARD AMOUNT ........................................................................................................... 45 HOW TO QUALIFY