After successfully completing your AmeriCorps term of service, you are eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use your AmeriCorps Education Award to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans. The award is $4,725 for a year of full-time service, and is prorated for part-time. You can access the award in full and part, and can take up to seven years after your term of service has ended to claim the award.

If you successfully complete a term of service in VISTA, you are eligible to receive either an AmeriCorps Education Award or an end-of-service stipend of $1,200. The AmeriCorps Education Award option is subject to available education trust allocations to AmeriCorps*VISTA. You must select the AmeriCorps Education Award option prior to the start of service.

You can use your AmeriCorps Education Award in any of the following ways—or a combination of them.

Three Options for Using Your AmeriCorps Education Award

The national service legislation defines qualified student loan as a loan backed by the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (except PLUS Loans to parents of students), or under Titles VII or VIII of the Public Health Service Act.

You may also use your AmeriCorps Education Award to repay a student loan made by a state agency, including state institutions of higher education.

AmeriCorps Education Awards may not be used to repay any other type of loan, even if the loan was obtained for educational purposes. You can use your AmeriCorps Education Award to repay defaulted student loans as long as the loans meet the definition of qualified student loan.

Pay Current Educational Expenses at a Qualified School

Current educational expenses, as authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 12604(c), include:

• The "Cost of Attendance" for a degree- or certificate-granting program of study at a qualified school; and
• Educational expenses for non-degree courses offered by qualified schools, such as continuing education courses.

Your school is qualified if it is a Title IV institution of higher education. This includes most colleges and universities, and includes graduate schools.

Pay Current Educational Expenses While Participating in an Approved School-to-Work Program

Current educational expenses are expenses that were incurred after you became an AmeriCorps member. Current educational expenses are based on:

• The "Cost of Attendance" for a degree or certificate-granting program at a qualified school and
• Educational expenses for non-degree courses, such as continuing education courses offered by qualified schools.

For credit or degree courses, the cost of attendance may include tuition, books and supplies, transportation, room and board, and other expenses. Each school's financial aid office determine a student's cost of attendance based upon standard U.S. Department of Education guidance.

For More Information on Your AmeriCorps Education Award

• Amount, Eligiblity, and Limitations
• Loan Postponements, Interest Payments, and Financial Aid
• Tax Implications
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Corporation is not in a position to provide advice about your income taxes or how you use your education award. However, for a discussion on how the education award may affect other financial aid and income taxes, see The Effective Education Award by National Service Fellow Brandon Rogers.

My AmeriCorps / AmeriCorps Online Payment System

Accessing and managing your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award has never been easier. My AmeriCorps provides a one-stop shop for AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA and NCCC applicants, members and alumni - presenting a wealth of information and frequently requested forms and services. By registering to use the system, you can check your award balance, access important financial forms and, most importantly, quickly and easily make payments to your educational or financial institution. The system also provides you with the ability to:

• Modify contact information (name, addresses, e-mail address)
• View and print tax statements and forms
• View and print pay statements (as applicable)
• Access customized letters certifying your term of service with an AmeriCorps program

Click here to log in to My AmeriCorps today!