AmeriCorps Member Benefits and Compliance Issues

1
(No Transcript)
2
AmeriCorps Member Benefits and Compliance Issues
Peg Rosenberry, Director Office of Grants
Management Mikel Herrington, AC State National
Deputy Director Lois Nembhard, AC State
National Deputy Director
3
Session Objectives
To understand the pitfalls programs encounter
in managing member benefits
To learn what is coming in member Timekeeping
To address common audit findings related to
member benefits
4
Member Benefits

• Topics of Discussion
• Living Allowance
• Healthcare
• Childcare
• Workers Compensation
• Other Benefits
• Education Awards

5
Living Allowance

• Equally distributed over the term of service
• Cannot be paid on an hourly basis or in lump sums
• Cannot be docked as a disciplinary measure
• It can be garnished in some states (e.g. for
  child support)
• Federal share can never be more than 85 of the
  minimum living allowance
• Professional Corps living allowance may exceed
  the maximum, but the grantee pays 100 - no CNCS
  funds
• It is taxed

6
Health Care

• Federal and match funds can only be claimed for
  full-time members or less-than-fulltime serving
  in a full-time capacity
• Program chooses plan, but it must meet CNCS
  minimum requirements, if requesting Federal funds
  to pay the premiums
• Programs may use more than one plan

7
Child Care

• Provided to full-time members only who meet
  income eligibility criteria
• Less-than-fulltime members may be eligible if the
  CNCS Child care provider (National Association of
  Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies)
  approves
• Members may use family members to provide child
  care

8
Workers Compensation

• Programs must pay it if required by state law
• If not required, programs must obtain
  occupational, accident, death and dismemberment
  coverage
• Programs should also review liability coverage to
  determine if additional coverage is needed based
  on operation of an AmeriCorps program.

9
Education Awards

• Members must complete hours to earn the award
• Pro-rated awards are only allowed under
  compelling personal circumstances taking a job
  or returning to school are NOT compelling
  personal circumstances

10
Other Member Benefits

• FICA Must be paid unless exempted by the IRS
  with specific written authorization
• Unemployment Insurance Cant be paid unless
  required by state law
• Liability Insurance Not really a member
  benefit, but it is required for the organization
  and usually included in indirect cost rates.
  Organizations should determine risk level with an
  AmeriCorps program to self-identify coverage
  amounts

11
Common Problems and Solutions
12
Member eligibility is not documented in the
member file

• No proof of citizenship or permanent resident
  alien status
• No proof of age
• If under 17, no parental consent form to
  participate
• Background checks are not completed on members
  working with vulnerable populations
• Background checks are not done BEFORE member
  starts serving

13
Living allowance is not paid correctly

• Members receive lump sums if they start after the
  term begins or complete their hours before the
  term ends.
• The program claims more than 85 of the minimum
  living allowance from the Federal share.
• The living allowance is paid for hours served
  before the member signs the contract or is
  enrolled in the Trust.
• Living allowance is paid before budget period
  starts.

14
The education award is not supported by the
timesheets

• The hours in WBRS do not match the hours on
  timesheets.
• Timesheet hours do not total to the minimum
  required to earn the education award.
• Timesheets are missing.
• Timesheets are not signed by the member and the
  supervisor.
• Leave hours are counted towards
• the education award.

15
Health insurance plans do not meet minimum CNCS
requirements

• Out-of-pocket expenses are applied to each event,
  even if for the same health issue.
• Every test or procedure is considered separately,
  even if for the same health issue.

16
Compelling personal circumstances is not
documented

• The exit form or member file does not fully
  explain the compelling personal circumstances
  that led to a pro-rated education award.
• The program has allowed the member to exit with a
  pro-rated award to go back to school or take a
  job.

17
Exercise
18
Questions??