1. Using your VISTA benefits

2. Using your VISTA benefits
Education Award
Interest Accrual Repayment
Non-competitive Eligibility
What to expect at the end of your year

3. Segal Education Award Details and stipulations Must use within 7 years
Taxation
Ways to use your award
Educational Expenses
Existing student loans (qualifying federal)
Study abroad programs
Specialized skills programs and certifications (from accredited institutions)
The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is subject to federal tax in the year you have funds sent from your account
CNCS sends a 1099 MISC Form to all AmeriCorps members for whom payments have been made totaling $ or more during the previous year. 
These include both payments from education awards and payments of interest that accrued
Ways to use your award: -Cost of Attendance (COA) for a degree or certificate program at a Title IV school.  tuition books and supplies transportation room and board and other expenses.
Doesn’t cover Parent Plus Loans DOES NOT COVER PRIVATE LOANS!
Education Award Match: many colleges and universities will match or even go beyond just matching

4. Interest accrual repayment
What is it?
Repayment of the interest accrued on your loans if placed in forbearance or Income Based Repayment
-Pays all or a portion of interest accrued during your service
-only can be paid after you complete your term of service and you’ve earned your education award
-The repayment is in addition to your ed award
-Are still considered taxable income and are reported to the IRS (must put it on your taxes)

5. First one to find the request page wins a treat!

6. USING YOUR Education Award
You would choose which type of payment and how much of your award you want to use before submitting.
You’ll see the amount of your award under My Education Award
Once you’ve completed your term of service it’ll become available for making payments
A link for making interest accrual payments will then become active- the payment for these do not come out of your education award, they’re entirely separate
USING YOUR Education Award

7. Interest accrual repayment request
Log in to my.americorps.gov
Select “Create Interest Payment Request under + My Ed Award
3. Select correct term of service
4. Select your Institution (Loan Provider)
5. If you have multiple loans with Institution, comment with correct loan #
6. “Authorize” and Submit
Do you have any questions about Education Award or Interest accrual repayment
Interest accrual repayment request

8. Non-Competitive Eligibility
Good for a full year after end of service date
What is it?
Eligible for some federal jobs without going through the competitive process
Eligible for some positions open only to federal employees.
**You must meet minimum requirements for position
Part of a smaller applicant pool
What can you use it for?
USAjobs.gov!
How do you use it?
Federal hiring agency can extend for 2 additional years if VISTA enters military, higher learning, PeaceCorps, or there’s a situation that the hiring agency deems acceptable
Does not guarantee a job, but
permits agencies to hire former VISTA members who meet minimum qualifications without going through all the formalities of a federal competitive process- must meet the minimum qualification
On us.gov you will be asked to attach your letter certifying
On usajobs: search “VISTA, AmeriCorps, Special Hiring Authority”

9. Non-Competitive Eligibility
Available after your service year is successfully completed, you can print your “VISTA Alumni Certification of Service” Letter

10. YOUR NAME

11. When you go on USAjobs, you choose that yes you fall into these categories

12. Apply Using NCE Network- Hiring fairs are a great opportunity
PeaceCorp jobs fairs
Search for NCE eligible positions (USAjobs, RPCV Career Portal, VISTA Campus, LinkedIN, Facebook)
Don’t assume hiring managers know NCE- Advocate for yourself in your
Federal Resume
Cover Letter
LinkedIn Profile
RPCV- returned peace corps volunteers
If you’re applying before the end of service, you want to include that you’re NCE once you successfully complete your service
Include your VISTA Verification of Service letter in your application

13. When to search for jobs
It’s never too soon to start researching and networking
Recommend applying 3-4 months before your service year ends (for most of you that’s now)
Inform potential employers of when your NCE will start in the interview process!
It doesn’t officially start until your last day of service!

14. Federal Employee Resources
VISTA Campus Job Board
HRU.gov
Offers trainings and webinars:
RPCV Career Portal
Finding and applying for jobs in Federal Government
AmeriCorps Alums
Go Government
GovLoop
Writing your federal Resume
USAJobs.gov
Interviewing

15. Employers of National Service
Currently over 500 employers including 25 federal agencies

16. Tips from our Program Officer
Review the qualifications questionnaire and tailor your resume and materials accordingly. This is the best way to get to the hiring manager
Build a master resume for both federal and non- federal jobs
Prepare for behavioral style interview questions using the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Network on social media and go to Peace Corps/AmeriCorps hiring fairs. Federal employers attend to find NCE candidates.

17. KAHOOT TIME
Go to with your phones or google “Kahoot” and choose first link
Kahoot Game

18. What to Expect at the End of Service
Forms
July 13: End of year celebration (with our cohort only)
Member Future Plans form: Due early June
After Service
Update address/travel plans
Access to NCE/Certification Letter/Education Award
Complete End of Term/Exit Form
End of Service Report: Due July 24th
Health benefits end
Stay connected as Alumni!
Events
Update SNAP (within 10 days after service completion)
May 25: In-service, Mental Health
June 2: End of Service Celebrations: (mark on calendars, details coming soon!)
June 22: In-Service: Reflect on your year
How to stay engaged as Alumni:
-Join Twin Cities AmeriCorps Alumni facebook page
-sign up for MLC newsletters- includes blurbs about what current cohort is up to
-donate once you’re financially able to
-Join advisory board in winter- help us choose new host sites for LV and SR & help connect us to new organizations
-Volunteer to be on alumni panel- join AmeriCorps Week events
-Join us on June 2nd
-Join the MLC board