HOW TO USE YOUR SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD,
AND SOME HELPFUL TIPS TO UTILIZE YOUR AWARD TO THE
FULLEST
HOW DID THE SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD BEGIN?
While VISTA was launched in 1966 as one of President Johnson's Great Society programs, AmeriCorps
was created by President Clinton with the passage of the National Service Act 27 years later. At that
time, VISTA became part of AmeriCorps. The first AmeriCorps members hit the ground in 1994.
Prior to the creation of AmeriCorps, VISTA volunteers could receive forgiveness on a percentage of any
Perkins Loan debt. This benefit still exists for VISTA members who elect not to receive an Education
Award.
During congressional negotiations over the formation of AmeriCorps, the amount of the Education
Award for a full-time service year was set at $4,725. The amount was calculated as 90 percent of the
Veterans Benefit at the time. It has since been increased to $5,550.
In 2006, the U.S. Senate renamed the AmeriCorps Education Award as the Segal AmeriCorps Education
Award. Eli Segal helped establish the Corporation for National and Community Service and was its first
CEO. He died in 2006.
HOW AND WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY AWARD?
After successfully completing a term with AmeriCorps, you are eligible for your Segal AmeriCorps
Educational Award. VISTA members have the option to receive a cash stipend instead of the Segal
AmeriCorps Education Award, and must decide this within the first 10 months of their term.
You must complete your hour requirement within your contracted term (does not apply to VISTA), and
complete and hand in all paper work that is asked by your program staff before receiving your education
award. This includes but is not limited to: any incomplete/missing timesheets, reporting documents,
and/or time off request forms.
Once you have completed your term and handed in any missing documents, your program staff will
begin the proper steps to exit you from the program. This process can take up to 2 to 3 weeks,
depending on the volume of members exiting at the same time.
After being exited from the AmeriCorps program you served with, you will have access to your
education award. You will not physically receive your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. It will be in
your My AmeriCorps account. This is an online account that allows you to delegate where you wish your
education award to go.
HOW CAN I ACCESS MY SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD?
You must first log onto your MyAmeriCorps account. If you applied to the AmeriCorps program online,
you have already created an account. Go to https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do there you can
either log on or create an account. If you forget your user name or password, follow the links on the log
on page.
By logging onto MyAmeriCorps and clicking on “My Education Award,” Members and Alumni can use
MyAmeriCorps to:
Update your contact information
Access, create, and submit forms to:
 Have your student loans deferred during your term of service (Forbearance Request)
 Request payment of the interest that accrued on your student loans during your term of service
(Interest Accrual Benefit Request)
 Request payment of qualified student loans (Education Award Payment Request)
 Request payment of current Educational Expenses (Education Award Payment Request)
 Extend the date of expiration of your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (Award Extension
Request)
 View the status of your pending requests
 Check your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award balance
 View your account history
WHAT CAN I USE MY EDUCATION AWARD FOR?
You can use your education award for two things: Title IV school expenses and paying back eligible
student loans (mainly federal student loans, not private loans or credit cards).
School Expenses: You can use the award for degree or enrichment coursework. You can use it at any
school listed as Title IV, including trade schools (beauty, massage, auto repair, etc.) and schools
overseas. You can find a full list of Title IV schools in the U.S. and abroad through:
http://www.finaid.org/.
You can use your award to pay for tuition, books, and cost of attendance items (which can include a
computer and equipment needed for coursework, depending on school policy). You will have to contact
your school’s Bursars Office to find out what options you have. Learn as much as you can about the
financial aid process and work closely with a school adviser. The main idea you want to express in
working with an advisor is, "I have an AmeriCorps education award but don't want to use it if it will
cause me to lose aid." From there, the advisor should be able to help you. Your national service income
(living allowance, education award, interest paid on student loans) does not count against you when
applying for federal student financial aid. Make sure you fill out the item marked "Additional Financial
Information" that relates to AmeriCorps on the FAFSA. You might just get a better financial aid package
than you hoped! Some schools offer scholarships and other incentives to alums. You can find the list
here: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/ed_award_match.asp.
To use your award for school expenses, you will need to log onto you’re MyAmeriCorps account and
click on “My Education Award.” Then go to Education Award Payment Request and follow the steps.
You will need to enter your school’s official name and address, and the amount you want to use of your
education award towards school expenses.
Paying Student Loans: Different loans have different policies when repaying with a lump sum, like your
education award. Some lenders will advance payments for you, buying you time before you need to
start paying, though you'll pay more over the life of the loan. Other companies will apply the lump sum
toward the loan's principal, meaning you'll pay less overall but your payments will start right away. Still
other companies will disburse your lump sum into 12 equal all-at-once payments to cover your loan for
a year. Talking with your loan provider can help you find which solution would be best for you. In many
cases, you are able to express in writing how you'd like your lender to apply your award toward your
loan to fit your preferences. If you are considering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, you
might want to consolidate your loans into Direct Loans (unless, of course, you are already a borrower
through Direct Loans). You might also wish to make minimal payments (as low as $0-5 per month)
through the Income Based Repayment program(http://www.finaid.org/loans/ibr.phtml) while you serve.
To use your award for payment of loans, you will need to log onto you’re MyAmeriCorps account and
click on “My Education Award.” Then go to Education Award Payment Request and follow the steps.
You will need to enter your loan provider’s official name and address, and the amount you want to use
of your education award towards student loans.
DO I HAVE TO USE IT ALL AT ONCE?
No. You can use your education award in increments. For example, you can spread your education
award over several semesters, or use one portion for tuition and another portion to pay down student
loans.
Keep in mind you have 7 years from the date of completion of service to use your award. Under certain
circumstances, you can receive an extension. To receive an extension, you must apply in writing. To
learn more about this, call the National Service Trust at 1-800-507-5962.
IS MY EDUCATION AWARD TAXABLE?
Yes. The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, unlike most other scholarships and fellowships, is subject
to federal tax in the year you have funds sent from your National Service Trust account to a school or
lender. If you spent more than $600 from your award, in the following January, you'll receive a 1099
form providing the information you need to complete your taxes. You can also download the form from
your My AmeriCorps account. If you use $600 or less, a 1099 form will not be created for you. However,
according to the IRS, you are still obligated to report any amount withdrawn from your education award
as income on your taxes. Even if it's just $5.The award may have an impact on how much federal tax you
owe.
There is a bill in Congress addressing this issue. To learn more, or find out how you can help the bill pass
visit:
http://www.americorpsalums.org/?PolicyEdAwardAction
HOW CAN I GAIN THE MOST FROM MY EDUCATION AWARD?
Did you know that the interest you pay on student loans is often tax deductible? Did you know that you
can get tax credits when going to school? You can pay less in taxes by taking advantage of these options.
The best way to learn more about these topics is to type the keywords "deducting student loan interest"
or "education tax credits" into your favorite search engine. You may want to note to receive your
deductions or credits you need to use Tax Form 1040. The EZ form will not allow you these options.
If you are concerned about taxes, you might try using your award(s) over the course of multiple tax
years (for example, half in 2010 and half in 2011). This might help prevent you from bumping into a
higher tax bracket. Members who move on from service and start a job in the $30-40,000 a year range
risk bumping themselves into a higher tax bracket when using their education award(s). You can
calculate your education award tax with an online tax service (Many of them are free until you file, and
others are always free). At any time of year, you can plug in your estimated tax numbers and note the
amount of your refund or what you owe. Then add the amount of your award you're planning to
withdraw. By doing this, you can see the difference the education award is making on your tax bill.
Remember that the Corporation of National Service Trust will pay the accrued interested on your
student loans that have been put on forbearance. After you have completed your service and received
notification of your award, you can go onto your MyAmeriCorps account and submit the request for
your interest to be paid. Even though the interest is being paid by a third party, you may claim this
interest as well in the calendar year that you submitted the request.
FACTS:

You can only receive up to two full-time Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards amounts $11,100
in a lifetime.
 If you began the program Oct 1st, 2009 or later, you can transfer the award to an immediate
family member if you are 55 or older and certain conditions are met. (At the moment, VISTAs
are not eligible.)
 The amount is $5,550 for a full-time award for AmeriCorps State and National members.
RESOURCES:
The information in this packet was taken directly from the following websites:
http://encorps.nationalserviceresources.org/edaward/index.shtml
http://encorps.nationalserviceresources.org/laa_award.php
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/benefits_ed_award.asp
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/online/index.asp
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do