Partial Awards
The Corps Network does not approve the requests for partial awards. Subgrantees must ensure a completed Partial Education Award Approval Form with appropriate supporting documentation is in the member’s file.

While members must request a partial award, Subgrantees are responsible for demonstrating compelling personal circumstances, not the members. As long as the program has kept adequate supporting documentation for the compelling personal circumstances, they are compliant. However, if AmeriCorps deems any exit for CPC not compliant, the Subgrantee will be responsible for repayment of the Award.

•  Corps don’t need the signature from the member on proof of compelling circumstance documents.
•  Medical – if a member is suspended with the intent on returning, but the medical issue prevents them from doing so, you must still reinstate the member and the supervisor must sign the form, explaining why the member is not returning from the medical suspension – you don’t need the member’s signature. A letter from a doctor is also not required by the regulations. However, program staff must use their judgment as to the actual facts and if you feel it’s necessary, require a doctor’s note based on the circumstances.
•  Employment – partial award allowed for these reasons only. a) If the member is a participant in the Opportunity Youth Service Initiative, b) if the Corps includes in its approved objectives/mission the promotion of employment among its members c) *welfare to work or if the member fits the definition stated below in 5ii (C). The Corps Network requires that you include proof of employment in the member’s file before approving a partial award.

You may not suspend a member while awaiting proof of employment;

•  Members must be exited within the 30 days allowed to be in compliance, regardless of the status of their paperwork. If a member does not submit proof of employment within 30 days, they must be exited with no award;
•  If a member is leaving for employment and is eligible for a partial award for any of The Corps Network/AmeriCorps compelling personal circumstances, the member must provide the name of the employer at exit. To properly document the CPC the member must submit one of the following within 30 days of exit:
  o A letter/email from the employer with a job offer (provided to member prior to exit)
  o Confirmation of employment via letter or email
  o A paystub
•  A suspended member who plans to return to the program but finds other employment while on suspension is not eligible for a partial award for employment. The member must be reinstated and exited immediately with no award.

* To qualify for a CPC exit based on the Welfare to Work exception in 45 CFR 2522.230(a)(5)(ii), an AmeriCorps member must have been previously enrolled in a state or federal benefits program prior to their service. If the member was enrolled in any such program immediately prior to their AmeriCorps service, they may qualify for a CPC exit if they leave service early to take a job.

Additionally, if your Corps mission or approved grant narrative includes member workforce development and/or reducing barriers to employment for members post-service, members who exit to take a job could qualify for a CPC exit, even if they were not enrolled in a benefits program immediately prior to enrolling as an AmeriCorps member.

For the purposes of this policy, welfare includes any state or federal benefit that an individual (alone or as part of a household) was receiving prior to AmeriCorps service. This can include but is not limited to:

•  Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
•  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
•  Rental Assistance (including housing vouchers)
•  Medicaid
•  Utility Assistance (including bill payment assistance and emergency heating)
•  Unemployment Benefits

To support the CPC exit, the AmeriCorps member should provide documentation of their participation in a benefits program, which you should maintain in their file as support for the CPC exit.