1. Member Benefits 2016-2017 Sarah Ehrhard Reid

2. Living Allowance Stipend an AmeriCorps Member receives while in service. ▫Cannot be on an hourly basis ▫Program must offer for full-time Members ▫Can be paid with same frequency as organization’s payroll, weekly, bi-weekly, twice monthly, or monthly

3. Living Allowance What if the Members start in the middle of the pay period? – If Members serve during any part of a pay period, they MUST receive the full amount, UNLESS your organization’s policies and procedures say differently Policy must be in Member Contract Must be reasonable, documented in policy, and followed consistently Cannot be based on an hourly rate

4. Living Allowance What if I have a Member that starts later or finishes earlier? ▫Members must receive the same rate for living allowance ▫“Catch Up” and “Lump Sum” payments are not allowed ▫For example, if a Member serves 11/12 months, the Member only receives 11/12 th of the living allowance

5. Living Allowance-Example Member Situation Length of Service Amount Per Month Total Living Allowance Provided Member A starts and finishes on time 12 months $1044.17$12,530.00 Member B starts on time and finishes 2 months early 10 months $1044.17$10,441.7 Member C starts late and finishes late 12 months $1044.17$12,530.00 Member D starts one month late and finishes on time 11 months $1044.17$11,485.87 Program has a 12-month program with a yearly living allowance of $12,530. It is paid on a monthly basis at a rate of $1044.17 per month.

6. Living Allowance-FAQs Can a Member waive their living allowance? ▫Yes. Member can waive all or part of the living allowance. If a Member doesn’t serve in the pay period, can I still provide him/her the living allowance? ▫NO. A Member must serve during the pay period in order to be eligible for the living allowance. If they aren’t serving, they should be suspended. Can the program deduct fines? ▫Yes. Fines cannot be applied to the federal share of the living allowance. What about garnishments? ▫Garnishments cannot be applied to the federal share of the living allowance. Can a program hold the living allowance? ▫Yes, but only temporarily for minor disciplinary reasons.

7. Taxes and Insurance Liability Insurance General Liability Coverage for the organization, employees, and Members FICA Must pay and withhold FICA for Members receiving L.A. Income Taxes Federal and State W-4s and W-2s, Personal income taxes withheld from L.A. Worker’s Compensation Worker’s Comp, or Occupational, Accidental, Death and Dismemberment Unemployment No coverage required for Members, cost may not be charged to grant for Members FMLA Programs may offerleave without L.A. at discretion of program Federal Work Study If Members receive works study for service, living allowance must be reduced

8. Education Award Benefit provided to an AmeriCorps Member who has SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED a term of service. It can be used to pay: ▫education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, or ▫or to repay qualified student loans.

9. Education Award Members must successfully complete their term of service Members may only receive the value of two full time education awards SEGAL EDUCATION AWARD AMOUNTS Participation TypeMinimum Number of HoursAmount Full-Time1,700$5,775.00 Half-Time900$2,887.50 Reduced Half-Time675$2,199.92 Quarter-Time450$1,527.45 Minimal-Time300$1,221.96

10. Education Award Payments -7 years to use award -May be used in one or multiple payments Payments only made to qualified schools or loan holders Transfers Member -Must be 55 or older at start of service -Service started after 10/2009 Recipient -Must be child or grandchild of Member -Not received 2 ed. awards -US Citizen, national or lawful permanent resident or alien Taxes Award is considered taxable income in the year that the Corporation submits the payment to the school or loan holder.

11. Loan Forbearance Temporary postponement of the repayment of their qualified student loans ▫Member requests forbearance through My AmeriCorps Portal ▫While the loan is in forbearance, interest continues to accrue. Upon successful completion, the National Service Trust will pay all or a portion of the interest that accrued on the qualified student loans during the service period ▫Members request through My AmeriCorps Portal ▫Interest payment is taxable income

12. Health Insurance Programs must provide, or make available, healthcare insurance to those Members serving a 1700-hour full-time term who are not otherwise covered by a healthcare policy ▫Should offer at the start of service and if the Member loses coverage through no deliberate act of their own. ▫Not for dependents Programs may provide health insurance to less- than-full-time members serving in a full-time capacity, but they are not required to do so.

13. Health Insurance Any of the following health insurance options will satisfy the requirement for health insurance: ▫Staying on parents’ or spouse plan; ▫Insurance obtained through the federal health insurance marketplace (at least the bronze level); ▫Insurance obtained through private insurance broker (must be MEC, many programs use The Corps Network for Members); ▫Medicaid, Medicare or military benefits.

14. Health Insurance Programs using the Healthcare Marketplace must develop a process to reimburse Members for premiums. ▫Member would sign up and pay their own premiums and then be reimbursed for costs ▫Reimbursements are considered taxable income for the Member ▫Programs must have a way to document such reimbursements

15. Child Care Benefits Full-time Members are eligible for child care benefits. ▫GAP Solutions administers the benefit for CNCS Eligibility Requirements ▫Household income ≤ 75% of the state’s median income for a family of the same size. ▫Not currently receiving any other child care subsidy. ▫Must be the parent or legal guardian of a child under 13. ▫Child must live with the Member. ▫Member must attest that child care is needed to provide AmeriCorps service. If a Member’s status changes, programs have five days to notify GAP Solutions, or could be liable for erroneous payments

16. Questions?

17. Discussion How do you ensure the living allowance is thought of as a benefit and not a wage? If you provide health benefits, what option do you use? What other benefits do you offer your AmeriCorps Members or help them acquire?