AmeriCorps Serving Suncoast Seniors FAQ Program Overview Requirements: o Aged 18-99 U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or permanent legal resident with a high school diploma or GED o Get fingerprinted and pass a Level 2 Criminal Background Screening, a drug screening, and a TB Test o Commit to at least one year of service (5 days per week, normal business hours) o Reliable personal transportation for occasional, reimbursed travel throughout southwest Florida (when traveling to a city outside of your area, your travel time counts toward your service hours) History of Senior Friendship Centers (SFC) and AmeriCorps (AC): See websites: friendshipcenters.org & AmeriCorps.gov What is the relationship between SFC & AC? AC is a national service program in which the federal government awards money to impactful state & local nonprofits to host AC members who will add capacity to the nonprofit & address unmet community needs. SFC—in partnership with the federal government—in essence, sponsors one AC team. Is this a VISTA program? No. What kind of an AmeriCorps program is this? State & National (you’ll need to know this to apply & to do online research on the specifics of this program) Will I be an employee of Senior Friendship Centers or AmeriCorps? No, so when you leave the program you will not be eligible for unemployment. Am I liable—or what are the consequences—if I can’t fulfill my 1 year contract? You won’t be liable but we do require a one year commitment in order for our program to be successful in reaching its goals. Can I be terminated from the program? Yes. Please see our code of conduct. When does the program begin and end? 8/1/13-7/31/14 What if I have a scheduling conflict? You’ll be expected to serve 36-40 hrs/week, 5 days/wk, during normal business hours. You may work or go to school on evenings or weekends if it won’t interfere with occasional service projects that you may be expected to participate in. If selected, where will I serve? Will I rotate positions? You will have a position description. You will not rotate positions. How many hours must be completed for the year? 1700 hours Are all of the positions full time? Yes. This means you must complete 1700 hours over the course of the year (approx. 3640 hrs. per week). Occasionally positions open up in the middle of a service year that are part time (900 hours to complete over whatever remainder of the year is left so it could be anywhere from 15-40 hrs/wk) How many hours per week are recommended? 36-40 Do I get PTO and sick days? No, you must serve additional hours to allow for time off. If you consistently serve 36-40 hours per week you should be able to take time off and comfortably complete the 1700 hours required. Top skills requires to be successful: communication (you’ll have two supervisors & serve alongside many volunteers); organizational abilities (you’ll be responsible for documenting the clients you serve and the services you offer; compassion for our clients
Benefits LIVING STIPEND Full time members receive: $238/wk. - $930.76/mo. - $12,100/yr (part time members receive $12,100 divided by the number of pay periods left in the year they’re serving in) Is the living stipend negotiable? No. Is it taxable? Yes. Will I be eligible for a raise? No. If I take time off, will I receive a stipend? Yes—as long as you serve at least 1 hr. in the pay period. The stipend is not considered income for purposes of food stamps or federal/federally-assisted programs based on need HEALTH INSURANCE: AETNA SRC AmeriCorps PPO Option 2 (for full time members only) No cost to you and begins the day you start the program Pro: insurance is a valuable part of a benefits package and this plan works well for basic doctor’s visit Con: A hospital stay costs on average $1,853/day—at this cost, less than one day would be covered Medical benefits overview: o You pay a $100 deductible per year—after that you pay: 20% (in network) / 40% (out of network)
20% of covered Rx expenses until you’ve paid $1000 (between your deductible and coinsurance) then the plan pays 100% (in network) / 80% (out of network) with a $50,000/incident maximum Dental benefits overview: o $25 deductible, $1500 max. benefit per coverage year o You pay up to 20% for checkups and cleanings o Filling: Plan pays $28-$85 Vision benefits overview: o Reimbursed up to $100/yr. for exam, frames, lenses, or contact lenses. SUBSIDIZED CHILDCARE (for full time members only) There is no way to know for certain what subsidy you qualify for—if any—before the program begins Eligibility requirements: o You must be the parent/legal guardian of a child under 13 (unless the child has special needs) and the child must reside with you o Household income must not exceed 75% of the state’s median income for a family of the same size; this limit may change annually. You may google “FL Childcare and Development Fund Plan” and locate the “FL State Childcare Subsidy Rates Chart” as an indicator of the state-regulated rates your subsidy will be based on. (In determining household income, the member’s living allowance is disregarded.) o You 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 you serve in the program How to apply: o As soon as you begin, submit the following to GAP Solutions: proof of income, a letter stating your dates of service and stipend, birth certificates for every child you’re seeking subsidized childcare for, your most recent tax return, your application with portions for you and portions completed by the childcare provider o (provided at http://www.americorpschildcare.com/Downloads/AMERICORPS_CAREGIVER_APP.pdf) If eligible, a per child reimbursement rate will be determined. Reimbursement can vary greatly depending on state of residence, household income, whether the childcare facility is licensed or not, etc. o The application process can take a few weeks, but—if you submit your application as early as possible— your application should be processed in time for your childcare facility to be paid the month after you start the program. If processing is delayed but you are awarded a subsidy, GAP Solutions will pay for any previous months you were in the program.Thereafter, GAP Solutions pays one month at a time For more info: o AmericorpsChildCare@gapsi.com or 855-886-0687 (toll-free) o http://www.americorpschildcare.com/Faq.aspx SEGAL EDUCATION AWARD (full time members receive a $5,500 award) (half time members receive a $2,775 award) You receive the award after the end of your service. It is administered online at myamericorps.gov. You have up to 7 years to use the award. It is taxed as income in the year you use the award. It may only be used to repay school loans or pay for tuition at a Title IV school that receives federal financial student aid. Title IV schools are listed here: http://edaward.org/guidebook/title-iv If you’re 55 or older the date you begin service, you may gift the award—via the online portal—to a child or grandchild who has up to 10 years to use the award. If you don’t complete the program and all of its requirements, you forsake this award. EXTREMELY UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATE OF THE VALUE OF AN AMERICORPS POSITION! $12,100 Stipend + $1,668 Health Insurance + $5,500 Education Award + $450/mo. Childcare Subsidy (educated guess—we don’t control the subsidy you’ll be awarded) = $19,268 (or, potentially, up to $24,668 including the childcare subsidy)
AmeriCorps Resources Serving Suncoast Seniors Director: Jenna DeLorey, jdelorey@friendshipcenters.org, 941-556-3208 Like seniors? “Like” our Facebook page!: www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsServingSuncoastSeniors www.AmeriCorps.gov AmeriCorps Help Desk/Hotline: 1-800-942-2677 (Call this number for assistance with your online application, questions about the Education award, health insurance, etc.)