What are my benefits as a VISTA?
Perhaps the most important benefits are the professional experience you will gain as a VISTA and the satisfaction of making a valuable contribution to the community. VISTAs earn a small living allowance (paid every two weeks) which is approximately $840/month in upstate NY counties and $916/month around NYC. (One of the founding principles of VISTA is for members to live at the economic level of the communities they serve in order to be more attuned to the challenges of poverty.) You can elect to receive a $1,200 end-of-service Stipend or a $4,725 Education Award. You can use the Education Award to pay off existing student loans, or to help pay for tuition and other related expenses at an accredited institution. If you have federal loans (e.g. Stafford or Perkins) you may defer these loans while in VISTA service. For these federal student loans, VISTA will pay the interest accrued during deferral provided you have chosen an Education Award. You may also qualify for student loan forbear
