To receive this benefit, teens must enter their Ventra Transit ID in the application. The Ventra Transit ID (a 12-digit number that begins with either 1100 or 1101) is not printed on Ventra cards and will need to be looked up.
Funds will be loaded as a weekly lump sum before the start of each program week through July 7 for stipend-based programs or July 14 for wage-based programs. Participating teens will be charged the full fare amount on all CTA busses and trains this summer unless they are enrolled in summer school.
You must enter your card information in the summer program application by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 12 to be eligible for the maximum days of transit support for your program schedule.
The Ventra Transit ID is a 12-digit number that begins with either 1100 or 1101. Your Ventra Transit ID is not printed on your card, and you will need to look it up online.
This number is the account number for your Ventra card and it’s how we’ll be able to load money onto your card.
To find your Ventra Transit ID (a 12-digit number that begins with either 1100, 1101, or 1102), visit VentraChicago.com or open the Ventra app.
Watch the two videos below for instructions on how to find your Ventra Transit ID using the Ventra app and website.
Ventra app instructions:
Ventra website instructions:
After School Matters will load money directly onto your Ventra card if you are enrolled in a program and entered your Ventra Transit ID in the application.
After School Matters will load money 4-5 days before your program week begins. We will send you an email when we start loading the money.
Check your Ventra card balance at VentraChicago.com or on the Ventra app to see if money was loaded. If you don’t have an account, open one today to begin checking your balance.
CTA only offers student fare during the summer to students in summer school. After School Matters is loading money onto your card up to the first stipend date to cover a portion of your fare, but you will continue to be charged full fare all summer by CTA.
After School Matters will pay for part of your transit cost up to July 14, but you will need to add money to your card to meet the full fare. After School Matters will load $3.50 for each day that your program meets directly onto your card. Money will be loaded 4-5 days before the start of your program week.
To figure out how much money you need to add to your card, add your weekly round-trip fare and then subtract one of these amounts from your fare*:
|
3 program days per week |
ASM will add $10.50 to your card |
|
4 program days per week |
ASM will add $14.00 to your card |
|
5 program days per week |
ASM will add $17.50 to your card |
*Note: The week of July 3 will be shorter because Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 are non-program days, and teens may receive less funds that week because of the holiday.
Q. My card begins with 6370 not 1101 so the application won’t accept it. What do I do?
You’re entering your Ventra card number not your Ventra Transit ID. Your Ventra Transit ID is not printed on your Ventra card and will need to be looked up.
To find your Ventra Transit ID (a 12-digit number that begins with either 1100, 1101, or 1102), visit VentraChicago.com or open the Ventra app.
Q. When I used CTA, my card was charged full fare not student fare. What’s going on?
A. CTA only offers student transit fares during the summer months if you are enrolled in summer school. After School Matters is loading money onto your card to pay for a portion of your fare up to the first stipend date, but you will continue to be charged full fare all summer by CTA.
Q. I lost my Ventra card. Can I update my Ventra Transit ID?
A. If you card was registered to an account, contact Ventra at 1-800-NOW-VENTRA to ask that your card balance be transferred to a new card. If your card was not registered, you will not be able to transfer funds from your old card to your new card. If you had a CPS card, you need to contact the school you will attend in the fall to receive a new one.
Q. How much money do I need to add to my Ventra card?
A. Because teens will be charged full fare all summer, ASM is adding the difference between full fare and student fare onto your transit card up to July 7 or July 14. You will need to add money to your card to meet the full fare. After School Matters will load $3.50 for each day that your program meets directly onto your card. Money will be loaded 4-5 days before the start of your program week. To figure out how much money you need to add to your card, add your weekly round-trip fare and then subtract one of these amounts from your fare*:
|
3 program days per week |
ASM will add $10.50 to your card |
|
4 program days per week |
ASM will add $14.00 to your card |
|
5 program days per week |
ASM will add $17.50 to your card |
*Note: The week of July 3 will be shorter because Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 are non-program days, and teens may receive less funds that week because of the holiday.
Q. Will this Ventra money take away from my stipend?
A. No, this money will not affect your stipend. It may be reflected on your 1099 or W-2 at the end of the calendar year.
Q. My Ventra card expires in June 2023. What do I do?
A. You will need to get a Ventra card. We encourage you to reach out to the school you will attend in the fall to receive a CPS Ventra card, or buy a card from a Ventra kiosk, drugstore, currency exchange or other Vendor. You can find a Ventra vendor here. Then enter your Ventra Transit ID number in the application.
Q. My card is connected to someone else’s account. Can I still sign up?
A. Yes, we can load funds onto your card if the Ventra account is managed by someone else. Double check that the card information you sign up with is the card you will be using this summer.
Q. Who is eligible for this support?
A. Every teen who is placed in an in-person program during summer 2023 trip is eligible for this support, including rising eighth graders and just graduated high school seniors.
Q. I don’t have a Ventra card. What do I do?
A. If you plan to take CTA to your program this summer and would like to receive financial support from After School Matters, you will need to get a Ventra card. We encourage you to reach out to the school you will attend in the fall to receive a CPS Ventra card, or purchase a card from a Ventra vendor or kiosk. Then, enter your Ventra Transit ID number in the application.
Q. Why can’t After School Matters pay for teen transportation for the full program session?
A. After School Matters understands it can be costly getting to and from programs, which is why we are providing support up to the first stipend check, and then continued support through teen stipend payments for the remainder of the program session. Stipend payments are intended to reduce barriers to access and participation in our programs, including to help cover transportation costs to and from programs.
Register your Ventra card online.
Registering your card online is the only way to restore funds if a card is lost, stolen, or cracked.
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