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Below you will find the benefits you will receive before, during or after your service. If you have specific questions about any of these benefits, contact your VISTA Leader or Program Coordinator.

Benefits at the Start of Your Service

Relocation: If a member is traveling/relocating more than 50 miles from their home of record, they will receive a mileage reimbursement for up to .40 cents per mile from CNCS
Settling-in Fee: Stewards AmeriCorps VISTAs who are eligible receive a one-time settling-in allowance of $750, if the member had to relocate/ travel more than 50 miles from their home of record
VISTA members are eligible to place student loans on forbearance during their service. Forbearance can only be placed on federal loans in conjunction with an education award. We HIGHLY recommend you request forbearance at the beginning of your service through your My AmeriCorps Portal

Benefits During Your Service

As a VISTA, you will have access to VISTACampus.org, a website that is all about VISTAs resources, needs and information
VISTA members receive a living stipend that is at minimum 110% of the federal poverty level and is adjusted for cost of living by county. Communicate with your Program Coordinator to receive more specific information
VISTA members are eligible for 10 vacation days and 10 sick days
- *If you need extra emergency days after exhausting both your vacation and sick days you can request up to 5 emergency days, that can include emergency travel
Health Care Benefits
- Health insurance supplement:
  - As an AmeriCorps VISTA you can have access to a health insurance allowance provided by IMG options, the allowance works together with your own personal insurance
  - You can access this benefit on the second week of your service by going to the IMG Website
Health insurance through the marketplace:
- If you don’t have health insurance, you have up to 60 days from the start of your service to sign up for a health insurance packet through the marketplace
As an AmeriCorps VISTA, you can have access to childcare for up to $500 per child
As an AmeriCorps VISTA, you are eligible to receive public assistance: SNAP and Medicaid (You will need to get in contact with your local DHS office, Welfare office or Public Assistance office to apply to both Medicaid and SNAP. Benefit amounts and approvals vary by county, you can get denied if you have a second source of income other than the AmeriCorps VISTA Allowance.

Benefits at the End of Your Service

End-of-Service Award:
- Segal Education Award: after serving 365 consecutive days, you can choose to receive the Segal Education Award that comes in a form of a voucher that can be used for federal student Loans, higher education, or for future educational trainings.
- Cash Stipend: after serving 365 days, you can choose to receive the Cash Stipend Award of $1,800. The award will be deposited into your account in the last two pay periods of your service year.
NCE Status: After you complete a full year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA, you will receive a non-competitive eligibility status that will help you with the federal hiring process.
- NCE status is a priority status given to members who have served a full year with AmeriCorps VISTA , essentially you are able to start a federal job as soon as possible without going through any of the required background checks, because you were already screened and cleared for your AmeriCorps VISTA year. This status gives you a priority over other applicants

For more in-depth information on all of the benefits, visit the Benefits of Service HUB.

Click here for more information about AmeriCorps Benefits Resources.

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