Benefits of Serving with AmeriCorps
During your service, you will receive:
The AmeriCorps Living Allowance is a form of payment issued to AmeriCorps members so that they can cover their living expenses during their term of service. Living allowances are associated with the member's contract hours and length of service. The living allowance is unique in that it is paid out to you in equal payments during your term of service, regardless of the number of hours served.
Living allowances can be used towards anything that the AmeriCorps Member may need and has no restrictions for use.
The City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program strives to provide as close to a 'livable' living allowance as possible, however, we understand that it's not always enough for some applicants. However, there are additional benefits and options that make AmeriCorps service possible, even though it might be more difficult.
Check out a blog post about how members across the country have been able to serve:
AmeriCorps Members with the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program are provided with several opportunities for training and professional development, through both the program and their service site.
For example, members serving in 300-hour, summer contracts go through 1 week of training with the AmeriCorps Program Staff that includes the boring, but important and necessary topics (policies & procedures), and valuable training on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma-Informed Service, and Emotional Intelligence.
AmeriCorps Members have been able to participate in several professional conferences through the program, including Race in the Heartland, Iowa Women's Leadership Conference, and others. The program strives to make sure members have as many opportunities to learn and grow, both professionally and personally, during their term of service.
As an AmeriCorps member in our program, you have access to the ASC AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP).
The Member Assistance program provides free, confidential, 24/7, unlimited telephonic counseling services.
Opportunities for student loan deferment, forbearance or forgiveness on qualified student loans are available for AmeriCorps members. Members are responsible for connecting with their loan provider to ensure eligibility.
As an alternative to putting qualified student loans into forbearance, members serving a full-time AmeriCorps position may be eligible to count the regular student loan payments made during their service toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Members may elect to participate in the Income Drive Repayment plan which make their loan payments more affordable during service. Learn more about PSLF and how to apply here.
Full-time, active AmeriCorps members may be eligible to apply for the AmeriCorps Child Care Benefit Program. Childcare benefits are paid directly to qualified childcare providers for all or of part of the member’s childcare costs during their active time of service with AmeriCorps. To be eligible through the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program, a member must meet the following criteria:
- The Member’s household income must not exceed 75% of the state’s median income for a family of the same size; the limit is different for each state and may change annually. The total income is used to determine your income eligibility excluding your AmeriCorps State and National Living Allowance.
- The member must not currently receive a childcare subsidy from another source at the time of acceptance into the program which would continue to be provided while the member serves in the program.
- The member must be a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13.
- The child must reside with the member. The member must certify that he or she needs childcare in order to participate in the AmeriCorps program.
Members serving in the City of Dubuque's AmeriCorps Program in a full-time contract are eligible to receive medical, dental, and vision insurance through CIGNA.
Health insurance through the program can only cover the AmeriCorps Member and does not cover children or a spouse.
After your service, you will receive:
About the Education Award
After successfully completing your AmeriCorps term of service and enrolling in the National Service Trust, you are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.
The Value of an Education Award
The amount of a full-time Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is equivalent to the maximum value of the Pell Grant for the fiscal year in which the term of national service is approved. The amount of the Pell Grant can change each year. Therefore, the amount of a full-time award can change. Once an individual earns an award, the dollar amount of that award will not change. The award amount varies based on the term of service completed. Learn more here.
Ways You Can Use Your Educational Award
Pay Educational Expenses
- You can use your education award to pay current educational expenses at eligible schools and at certain GI Bill-approved educational programs for veterans.
- Eligible schools are higher educational institutions, both domestic and foreign, that currently participate in the Department of Education’s Title IV student aid programs. This category includes most post-secondary colleges, universities, and technical schools.
Repay Qualified Student Loans
- The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award can only be used to repay the qualified student loans listed below:
- Loans backed by the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (except PLUS Loans to parents of students)
- Loans under Titles VII or VIII of the Public Service Health Act
- Loans made by a state agency, including state institutions of higher education
Employers across the country know that national service alumni are strong leaders who are motivated, flexible, innovative, and outcome-oriented. They learn quickly, work well on diverse teams, and know how to mobilize others to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation and our world.
Over 600 Employers have signed on to recruit and hire AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni for their skills and service experience! Search the Employers of National Service Network here by name, type, or location.
Eligibility Requirements
- To serve as a Corps Member, you must be 18 years of age, or be 17 with parental/guardian permission.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen (required for FEMA Corps), or a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S.
- Must a 3-part background check that includes the National Sex Offender Website Check, a state-level background check for Iowa + for your state of residence if not an Iowa resident, and a FBI Fingerprint check.
Reasonable Accommodations
AmeriCorps welcomes qualified individuals with disabilities into the service program. AmeriCorps does not have blanket rules that exclude candidates with particular health conditions or disabilities. The agency will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information in assessing a candidate's ability to serve. The agency will make a reasonable accommodation to a known disability of a qualified candidate if it will not impose an undue hardship on the operations of the program.