Applying to Alaska Public Assistance 

Location: Public Assistance Office, 675 7th Ave # D, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Folks start lining up around 7:30am. Expect the process to take 2.5-3.5 hours
​Applications: found here
About SNAP (food stamps)
About AK Medicaid 
  • Adult Alaska Medicaid does not cover dental as of 7/2019.
  • Meidcaid Eligibility Prescreening Tool: https://aries.alaska.gov/screener/?logIn=N
  • Medicaid Income and Eligibility Standards: http://dpaweb.hss.state.ak.us/POLICY/PDF/Medicaid_standards.pdf
What to bring: (see page 2 of application for an exhaustive list) 
  • Completed application
  • Current government issued identification (driver's license, passport, or military ID card) 
  • A copy of government issued identification for them to keep 
  • Proof of address (just in case).
    • This can be a piece of mail or a bill with your name and address on it, a copy of your apartment lease, a bank statement with your name and address, etc. ​​​
  • Pay stubs and service letter from My AmeriCorps 
    • ​​Ask your VISTA Leader for help finding these documents 
Tips from a VISTAs experience:
  • Do NOT apply online, drop off the completed form and leave or call the phone number to ask questions. The office is incredibly backed up and you’ll wait forever to hear back.
  • On the form, “household” means only yourself - unless you are a dependent with someone in your house or if someone in your house is your dependent. Roommates in general are not included in your household.
  • Show up early. Be in line before the doors open.
  • Bring a form of quiet entertainment. A book, earphones to watch or listen to something on your phone.
  • Bring all documentation every time.
  • Make sure you have your VISTA leader & VISTA program director’s phone numbers in case the case manager needs to call to verify employment.
  • Bring all phone numbers for employers in the past quarter.

Using Your AmeriCorps Education Award 

When VISTAs complete a full term of service, either 10-weeks in the summer or a full year, they choose between a cash stipend or an education award. Currently, the education award amount is $6,345 for a full year VISTA and $1,358 for a summer associate VISTA. 

This award can be used toward
  • Current tuition 
  • Student loans
  • Saved for future schooling
    • ​​Pro-tip: Ask your institution to match it! Even if they don't advertise a match program, they may do it. A Fairbanks VISTA applied to several graduate schools, and by asking, got them all to match the education awards at different levels. It went through as a scholarship offered by the institution directly.
  • Enrichment classes, outdoor recreations schools, and other non-traditional educational opportunities. 

​A VISTA has 7 years to use their education award. The education award is taxed. ​

​Learn more about using your Education Award here. 
Forebearance on Student Loans 

Individuals may be eligible to have the repayment of their qualified students loans postponed while serving. This postponement is called forbearance. While interest may continue to accrue during your service, if you successfully complete your term of service the National Service Trust will pay all or a portion of the qualified loan's interest that accrued during your service. 

Interest payments are not subtracted from your education award amount.  They are made in addition to education award payments. 

All requests related to the education award are accessed through the member's My AmeriCorps portal.
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