§8142 Peace Corps volunteers

Summary

Makes Peace Corps volunteers eligible for benefits under this part of the law. A "volunteer" means a regular volunteer, a volunteer leader, or someone in training who is about to enroll. Benefits use a pretend monthly pay: GS‑7 minimum for most volunteers and GS‑11 minimum for volunteer leaders or volunteers with one or more minor children. Disability pay starts the day after service ends. Time counted as service includes pre‑enrollment training and the time from enrollment until death, resignation, or presidential termination. An injury that happens outside the States/DC is treated as work‑related unless it was caused by the volunteer’s willful bad act, an intent to hurt or kill themselves or someone else, or by the volunteer being intoxicated. The Secretary lets the Peace Corps Director provide medical care for injuries from service for up to 120 days after service ends if the Director certifies the injury likely meets the work‑related test. The Secretary may pay those medical bills from the Employees’ Compensation Fund and will set the form of the certification. The certification ends if the volunteer later gets a compensable disability. The Secretary cannot approve medical care that the Secretary of Labor would not be allowed to pay.