How to Apply for AmeriCorps Seniors

AmeriCorps Seniors is a federal program (formerly called Senior Corps) that places about 140,000 Americans aged 55 and over into volunteer roles every year. It is run by the same agency that runs the regular AmeriCorps for younger people, but the senior version has flexible hours, mileage reimbursement, and a small tax-free stipend for some roles. The work is local — you serve in your own community, not somewhere far away.

The program has three branches, each with a different focus. The Foster Grandparent Program pairs you one-on-one with a child who needs a steady adult presence — usually in a school, Head Start center, or pediatric hospital. You serve 15 to 40 hours a week and receive a stipend (about $4 an hour, tax-free) plus mileage and meal reimbursement.

The Senior Companion Program pairs you with another adult — usually a person with a disability or a frail older neighbor — to help with errands, doctor visits, and friendly conversation. The hours and stipend are the same as Foster Grandparents, but the focus is on helping older adults stay in their own homes longer.

The RSVP program (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is the largest and most flexible. There is no minimum hours requirement and no stipend. But you get mileage reimbursement and supplemental insurance while you serve. RSVP volunteers do everything from delivering meals to tutoring kids to staffing food pantries — whatever local nonprofits in your county need.

Income eligibility matters for the stipend programs. To qualify for the Foster Grandparent or Senior Companion stipend, your household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty line — about $30,120 for a single person and $40,880 for a couple in 2026. RSVP has no income limit because there is no stipend.

Applications are handled at the local level. AmeriCorps Seniors funds about 600 community sponsors across the country — usually a Catholic Charities office, an Area Agency on Aging, a community college, or a United Way. You apply directly to the local sponsor, not to the federal government.