§ 1207.3-5 - Senior Companions.

(a) Eligibility. (1) Senior Companions shall be 60 years of age or older, no longer in the regular work force, determined by a physical examination to be capable of serving adults with exceptional or special needs without detriment to either themselves or the adult served, and willing to accept supervision as required.

(2) Eligibility to be a Senior Companion may not be restricted on the basis of education, experience, citizenship, race, color, creed, belief, sex, national origin, handicap, or political affiliation.

(3) To be enrolled, a Senior Companion cannot have an annual income from all sources, after deducting allowable medical expenses, which exceeds ACTION's income eligibility guidelines for the state in which he or she resides. The ACTION income eligibility guideline for each state is 125 percent of the poverty line as set forth in section 625 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended by Pub. L. 92-424 (42 U.S.C. 2971d), except (i) in those primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA), metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) and nonmetropolitan counties identified by the Director as being higher in cost of living, as determined by application of the VISTA subsistence rates, in which case the guideline shall be 10 percent above that amount; and (ii) in Alaska, where the guideline may be waived by the ACTION State Director for individual locations if a project demonstrates that low-income individuals, in that location, are participating in the project. No Senior Companion currently participating in the Program, shall become ineligible as a result of this change in guidelines.

(4) Once enrolled, a Senior Companion shall remain eligible to serve and to receive a stipend as long as his or her annual income, after deducting allowable medical expenses, does not exceed the prescribed ACTION income eligibility guideline by 20 percent. Income eligibility shall be reviewed annually by the sponsor.

(5) Recruitment and selection of a Senior Companion may not be based on any requirement of employment experience or formal education.

(b) Terms of service. (1) Senior Companions serve a total of twenty hours a week, usually five days a week. Travel time between the volunteer's home and place of assignment may not be considered part of the service schedule and is not stipended. Travel time between individual assignments is a part of the service schedule. Meal time may be part of the service schedule only if meals are taken with the individual served, and the taking of meals together is deemed by the sponsor and the volunteer station to be beneficial to the person served.

(2) Senior Companions are volunteers, not employees, of the sponsor.

(c) Direct benefits. The total of direct benefits for Senior Companions, including stipends, insurance, transportation, meals, physical examinations, recognition, and uniforms if appropriate, shall be a sum equal to at least 90% of the amount of the ACTION Federal share of the grant. In exceptional circumstances, the Director may waive this requirement. Federal and non-federal resources can be used to make up this sum. Direct benefits may not be subject to any tax or charge or be treated as wages or compensation for the purposes of unemployment insurance, temporary disability, retirement, public assistance, or similar benefit payments or minimum wage laws. Direct benefits include:

(1) Insurance. Senior companions shall be provided with the ACTION specified minimum levels of accident insurance, personal liability insurance and, when appropriate, excess automobile liability insurance.

(i) Accident insurance. Accident insurance shall cover Senior Companions for personal injury during travel between their homes and places of assignment, during their volunteer service, during meal periods while serving as a volunteer, and while attending project-sponsored activities, such as recognition activities, orientation and Advisory Council meetings.

Protection shall be provided against claims in excess of any benefits or services for medical care or treatment available to the volunteer from other sources including:

(A) Health insurance coverage;

(B) Other hospital or medical service plans;

(C) Any coverage under labor-management trusteed plans, union welfare plans, employer organization plans, or employee benefit organization plans; and

(D) Coverage under any governmental programs or coverage provided by any statute.

When benefits are provided in the form of services rather than by cash payments, the reasonable cash value of each service rendered shall be considered in determining the applicability of this provision. The benefits payable under a plan shall include the benefits that would have been payable had a claim been duly made therefor. The benefits payable shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the sum of such reduced benefits and all the benefits provided for by any other plan shall not exceed the total expenses incurred by the volunteer.

(ii) Personal liability insurance. Protection shall be provided against claims in excess of protection provided by other insurance.

(iii) Excess automobile liability insurance. Protection shall be provided against claims in excess of the greater of either:

(A) Liability insurance volunteers carry on their own automobiles, or

(B) The limits of the applicable state financial responsibility law, or

(C) In the absence of a state financial responsibility law, levels of protection to be determined by ACTION for each person, each accident, and for property damage.

Senior Companions who drive their personal vehicles to or on assignments or project related activities must maintain personal automobile liability insurance equal to or exceeding the levels established by paragraph (c)(1)(iii) (B) or (C) of this section.

(2) Meals. Within the limits of available resources and project policy, Senior Companions will be provided or will receive assistance with the cost of meals taken during their service schedule.

(3) Physical examinations. Senior Companions are required to have a physical examination prior to assignment and annually thereafter.

(4) Appropriate recognition will be provided for Senior Companions.

(5) Stipends. A Senior Companion will receive a stipend in an amount determined by ACTION and payable in regular installments. The minimum amount of the stipend is set by law and may be adjusted by the Director from time to time. When both the eligible husband and wife serve as a Foster Grandparent or Senior Companion, only one spouse shall be entitled to receive a stipend. Both spouses in such cases shall be entitled to other direct benefits. Only in cases where enrolled Foster Grandparents or Senior Companions marry, may each continue to receive a stipend.

(6) Transportation. Senior Companions shall be provided transportation or receive assistance with the cost of transportation to and from volunteer assignments and official project activities, including orientation, training, advisory council meetings and recognition events. Reimbursement will be within the limits of available resources and project policy. Project funds may not be utilized to reimburse Senior Companions for transportation provided for or on behalf of clients.