During Service

Student Loans

During service you are able to put your qualified student loans in forbearance. This means that you will not be required to make payments during your service year. Please note that interest will continue to accrue. Follow these steps to put your loans in forbearance.   

All Fellows who successfully complete their service year will receive up to $7,395. The Segal Education Award can be used to repay qualified student loans or to pay for current or future educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education.

SNAP Application Verification Letter 

Almost all welfare benefits will require you to submit documentation of your identity and income. We will provide you with a verification letter detailing your role, responsibilities, the nature of your service, and your income. You should use this letter when you submit documentation to SNAP and other social welfare agencies. The letter will be shared via email by Nora. After you receive the letter, you should start your application immediately so you get access to SNAP benefits in a timely manner. 

TalkSpace

Talkspace is a free, online service that enables you to message a therapist and/or schedule two live sessions (via chat, audio, or video) with a therapist a month. 

UPchieve

UPchieve provides free tutoring to low-income students through easy-to-use online platform. We recommend signing up for UPchieve to supplement your service hours, especially if you get sick or can’t serve in-person at your school for a couple of days. Over 70 GO Fellows have already helped over 600 students. 

Fellow Relief Grant

We understand that covering the costs associated with your fellowship program, such as transportation and fingerprinting fees, can sometimes pose financial challenges. To alleviate this strain, we have established a Fellow Relief Grant designed to provide assistance for such expenses. Although there is no limit to how often an individual can apply for this grant within a fiscal year the grant is capped at $500 for a full-year, $375 for TQT, and $250 for half-time. See more information here. 

Transportation Benefit

Fellows can receive up to $700 a year in transit benefits. Simply submit a transit reimbursement form with an itemized receipt. You are able to submit multiple requests, but you can only receive up to $700 a year.