Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

AmeriCorps Education Awards -  renamed the Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards after Eli Segal, one of the pioneers of the national service movement and the first CEO of the Corporation—are a post-service benefit received by AmeriCorps members, including those supported through VISTA and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). For information on joining AmeriCorps. please visit https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/join-americorps .

Upon successful completion of a term of service, members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ranging in value from $1,000 to $4,725, which may be used only to pay college costs or to repay student loans. Members may earn up to two awards and have seven years to use this benefit. Since the inception of AmeriCorps in 1994, more than 400,000 alumni have earned more than $1.2 billion in education awards.

The award, which was designed to encourage AmeriCorps alumni to seek postsecondary education opportunities, serves as a powerful recruitment tool for individuals to join AmeriCorps. Studies show that AmeriCorps alumni, with their commitment to service, also make excellent students. A growing number of higher education institutions, in order to encourage AmeriCorps alumni to enroll in their institutions, are "matching" the education award with scholarships and / or academic credits. You can search for matching institution and their contact information at https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/segal-americorps-education-award/use-your-education-award

How to Request Educational Award Payments:

Log into My AmeriCorps website at https://my.americorps.gov External Site Link

Use My AmeriCorps Portal to Manage Your Education Award

  • Check your award balance and value
  • Request payments to educational institution and loan holder
  • Request forbearance on qualified student loans
  • Update contact information
  • Check living allowance and tax statements

You can create and submit a request online for your AmeriCorps Education Award benefits. If you are a degree or certificate-seeking student, you may request more than the cost of your tuition and fees, up to the Cost of Attendance for the quarter(s) you are requesting funds. If you are not pursuing a degree or certificate, you may only request the amount of your tuition, fees and supplies (you may  be required to document with receipts or written estimate statements, depending on the course description). Please make sure your major/program of study is current in Enrollment Services. To update your major/program of study, you can complete the online form Major/Program Change Request.

Once you have successfully created and submitted your Education Award Payment Request, it is then transmitted electronically to Everett Community College for processing. The college must certify that your payment requested is for current educational expenses. The amount you are eligible for is determined by the Cost of Attendance less any other student aid, or comparable amount for non-degree programs (not just the AmeriCorps education award amount). The total of all student aid, including the education award, cannot exceed the COA or the comparable amount allowed for non-degree programs (i.e. continuing education courses). Your online payment request will either be denied or approved by Everett Community College, and you will be sent a notice directly from the Corporation for National Service Trust (CNST).

If your funds will not arrive at Everett Community College by the published Tuition Deadline, you may request a Financial Aid Hold/Tuition Postponement from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

Funds are typically received within the first week of the quarter, if your request was submitted a minimum of 1-2 weeks before the quarter start date. If you are requesting your educational award after the quarter begins, funds are expected to be received within 10 business days.

Important:

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards are disbursed in two equal payments from CNST - one at the beginning of the quarter and one half-way through the quarter. Please plan accordingly to cover your initial educational costs while you're waiting for your first and second disbursements from the CNST.
  • You may track the progress of your payment request through your ctcLink account.  Any balance remaining after tuition is paid will be disbursed to you through  BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. 

Taxes and Your Education Award: Contact your tax advisor or the IRS https://www.irs.gov/ External Site Link for information on reporting your education award as taxable income. 

  • The IRS has determined that all payments made from your education award are considered taxable income and should be included in your tax returns. 
  • Payments paid by the Trust for interest that accrued during your service period are also considered taxable income.These payments are included as income in the calendar year the payment was actually made. For example: if the payment was requested late December 2021 and the payment was made in early January 2022, it will be considered 2022 income.
  • In January of every year, the Trust mails out 1099 MISC forms to individuals who have had payments totaling $600 or more made from their accounts during the previous calendar year. This form includes both education award and interest payments for the tax year.Payments of less than $600 during the year are still considered taxable by the IRS but notices are not mailed.
  • For more detailed information, visit Tax Implications at https//www.nationalservice.gov.  
  • You can also go into your account in My AmeriCorps and print out your own IRS Form 1099 for the year to use for your tax calculations.

For further information or assistance, please contact Anita Radliff, Assistant Director, at aradliff@everettcc.edu or 425-388-9198.