SECTION A – Financial Eligibility
To be eligible for the youth program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, youth must meet income eligibility as defined below –
- Receives or is a member of a family that receives cash payments under a federal, state or local income based public assistance program;
- Receives an income or is a member of family that received a total family income for a 6-month period prior to application (exclusive of unemployment compensation, child support payments, cash payments from public assistance programs, and old age and survivor’s insurance benefits received from Social Security) that does not exceed the higher of the 100% of poverty for an equivalent period; or 70% of the Lower Living Standard Income Level.
SECTION B – Barrier Assessment
In addition, youth must also have at least one or more of the following barriers –
- Demonstrated deficiency in basic literacy skills, defined as reading, writing or computing assessed at or below the 8th grade level;
- School dropouts, defined as youth who no longer attend any school and have not received a high school diploma or an equivalency diploma (GED);
- Homeless, runaway, or foster child;
- Pregnant or parenting youth;
- Offenders, defined as having been involved in any stage of the criminal justice process, or who require assistance in overcoming barriers to employment as a result of arrests or convictions; or
- A youth with a disability who requires assistance to complete an educational program or assistance in employment preparation and retention.
- Has past or present substance abuse problem.
- Is part of a family that receives Temporary Assistance (TANF/Safety Net Assistance, and all other non-cash assistance, i.e., Medicaid, Food Stamps, HEAP, etc.).
- Has poor school performance either academically or socially.
- Has a poor work history; for those 18 or older, has not maintained unsubsidized employment with the same employer for 6 months or more.
- Has no unsubsidized work history (14-17 year olds).
- Is living in public housing or receives a rent subsidy.
- Is in an alternative education program.
- Has inadequate time for study due to family needs.
- Is adjudged abused.
- Lacks family support.
- Does not have access to reliable transportation.