TN 102 (01-09)

Citations:

Social Security Act as amended, Section 1612;

20 CFR 416.1102 through 20 CFR 416.1167

A. Introduction to the WIA

The WIA of 1998 repealed the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982. The WIA was passed by Congress to provide a local one-stop delivery system for employment related services such as job training and services to individuals facing serious barriers to employment. There are three funding streams to states one each for adults, dislocated workers and youth. The programs supported with federal grants under the WIA that may involve payments to SSI individuals are as follows:

1. Native American Programs

American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians are eligible to receive employment and training services on reservations and in their communities under these programs. Services are targeted to assist unemployed, underemployed or economically disadvantaged individuals with the goal of expanding their occupational, academic and literacy skills and enhancing their job prospects. Grants are provided to American Indian tribes, bands or groups recognized as tribes in the State of Oklahoma, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities or Indian-controlled nonprofit organizations or consortia to provide these services.

2. Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Programs

These programs provide services such as skills assessment, job-search, career planning and emergency assistance to alleviate chronic unemployment and underemployment among migrant and seasonally employed farmworkers. Additional services for at-risk and out-of-school youth between the ages of 14 and 21 are provided under the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Youth Program.

3. National Emergency Grants

Funding may be provided to assist displaced workers laid off from their jobs in finding new employment. The lay offs can be due to massive plant closings, downsizing or military base realignment.

Also, funds may be allocated to assist the Governor of any State where an area has suffered an emergency or disaster for the purpose of providing relief employment in the area and appropriate services to dislocated workers

4. Technical Assistance

Reserved funds are used under this program to further assist dislocated workers and provide staff training for individuals who provide rapid response services to disaster areas.

5. Veterans’ Workforce Investment Programs

Grants may be made to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations to enhance services provided to veterans by other providers of workforce activities such as employment, job training and education.

6. Youth Opportunity Grants

Services are linked to local school systems and other WIA programs such as Job Corps, School-to-Work and formula-funded youth programs. Youth between the ages of 14 and 21 can gain access to a wide range of employment, training, educational and supportive services. For the policy and procedures for Job Corps, see SI 00830.536.

B. Policy for payments received under the WIA

Any payments received under the WIA are subject to the general rules pertaining to income and income exclusions.

C. Procedure for determining participation in a WIA program

Accept an individual's allegation of participation in a WIA program and the receipt of supportive services, such as child care, transportation, medical care, meals, and other reasonable expenses, provided in cash or in-kind, unless there is reason to question the information.

D. Procedure for determining countable income

Determine the type, amount and frequency of the income the individual receives and evaluate the income, e.g., wages, stipends, incentive payments, etc., under the general rules of unearned and earned income.

Disregard any payments that represent supportive services without further development or documentation since supportive services such as those described in SI 00830.535C. of this section are assumed to be social services and not income (see SI 00815.050 for the policy for social services).

E. References

• SI 00815.050 - Medical and Social Services, Related Cash, and In-Kind Items

• SI 00820.535 - Blind work expenses

• SI 00820.540 - Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

• SI 00830.536 - Job Corps

• SI 00830.880 - Indian Fishing Rights Income

• SI 00870.001- Plans to Achieve Self-Support — Overview, through SI 00870.100 - Exhibits