ACTION BULLETINS (PY 2000)

AB 7 WIA SELF-SUFFICIENCY THRESHOLD

AB 7
Effective Date: 09/28/00


ACTION BULLETIN


TO: ONE STOP CAREER CENTER SITE MANAGERS

DATE: DECEMBER 28, 2000

SUBJ: WIA SELF-SUFFICIENCY THRESHOLD
Alameda County Workforce Investment Area


Purpose of Bulletin

On September 28, 2000, the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) approved a Self-sufficiency threshold of $21.24 per hour earned wages to apply in the determination of eligibility for registrants requesting Intensive and/or Training services under Title IB of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The threshold applies to employed registrants, both low-income adults and dislocated workers. The bulletin will outline the policy/procedure/definition of the self-sufficiency threshold, the acceptable documentation and any exceptions that apply.

Citation

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Section 134(d)(3)(a)(ii)
Congressional Federal Register 20 CFR Part 663.320

Policy

The Self-sufficiency threshold is $21.24 per hour earned wages, and will apply in the determination of eligibility for registrants requesting Intensive and/or Training services under Title IB of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The threshold applies to employed registrants, both low-income adults and dislocated workers.

Definition

The Self-sufficiency threshold of $21.24 acknowledges the study, The Self-Sufficiency Standard, conducted in 1996 by Wider Opportunities for Women out of Washington D.C. The study determined the amount of earned income necessary to live self-sufficiently in the greater Bay Area. Self-sufficiency, as defined in the study, is the amount of income necessary to meet basic needs (including paying taxes) in the regular “marketplace” without public subsidies, such as public housing, Food Stamps, Medical or child care, or private/informal subsidies, such as free babysitting by a relative or friend, food provided by churches or local food banks, or shared housing. Self-sufficiency estimates the level of income necessary for a given family type – whether working or in transition to work – to be independent of welfare and/or other public and private subsidies. The Alameda County WIB adopted the definition and the threshold amount indicated in the study.

Procedure

The WIA employment and training programs mandate a universal access one-stop system with a tiered approach to service delivery. When an employed registrant is unable to obtain or retain employment that leads to self-sufficiency through the Core (Self-Directed and/or Staff-Assisted) service levels and requires enrollment in the Intensive service level, documentation must be collected to prove the customer’s per hour earned wages, including regular overtime, is at or below $21.24 per hour prior to enrollment.

 Acceptable Documentation

Collection of one (1) of the following documents is required to establish that an employed low-income or dislocated worker registrant’s per hour earned wage, including regular overtime, is at or below the $21.24 self-sufficiency threshold on the date of enrollment into the Intensive service level.

1. A current pay stub showing per hour earned wages
2. A letter from employer substantiating per hour earned wages
3. A collateral contact with employer substantiating per hour earned wages
4. As a last recourse, an applicant statement, with corroborating witness statement, attesting to per hour earned wages for the registrant.

Employed WIA low-income adult and dislocated worker registrants whose per hour earned wages are above $21.24 per hour will not be enrolled into Intensive services, except as indicated below.

 Exceptions

A Self-sufficiency threshold determination will not be made for low-income adult customers who are:

1. Employed, but still receive public assistance;
2. Not Employed; or
3. Disabled individual whose income meets the LLSIL but whose family income does not.

WIA Low-income Adult customers are primarily 22 years of age or older, but can be 18-21 year olds if determined to be suitable for the adult program.

Therefore, both unemployed and under-employed, low-income adult and dislocated worker, customers with some or limited work experience can meet the self-sufficiency criteria for enrollment into WIA Intensive and/or Training services if such services are required to obtain or retain self-sufficient employment.

Action
The One-Stop Career Centers must maintain WIA eligibility documentation and verification in the case file that is sufficient to guard against serving ineligible applicants.

The Self-sufficiency threshold is effective on 09/28/00.

Information & Inquiries
Please contact Linda Slater, MIS Manager, at (510) 728-7905 or lslater@alcopic.com with any questions regarding the information bulletin.