Eligibility Information For Individualized Career & Training Services
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program is federally funded and designed to assist dislocated workers or financially eligible individuals with intensive job search and/or training services. To participate in WIOA services you must meet eligibility and program requirements.
To learn more about the employment and training services available at PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley, please visit our virtual Welcome Center and watch the introductory video. Upon completion of the orientation form, a staff member will contact you with next steps.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Eligibility
(Required Documentation: Proof of US citizenship or eligibility to work status, current address, Social Security number, and, if applicable, verification of Selective Service Registration)
- You must be a US Citizen or eligible to work in the United States
- You must be a resident of either Lehigh or Northampton County (If you reside outside of this area, you will need to contact your local PA CareerLink® office.)
- You must have a Social Security number
- You must complete your PA CareerLink® enrollment including your online resume, Civil Rights Statement, and job preferences
- If you are a male born on or after January 1, 1960, you must be registered for Selective Service
- You must be either a dislocated worker or be income eligible
What makes me a dislocated worker? (Required Documentation: Letter of permanent layoff from company, if applicable, Proof of eligibility to receive Unemployment Compensation, pay stub indicating part-time hours, if working)
- You were permanently laid off from a job no more than three years prior to your WIOA registration date or have received notice of a layoff (Staffing services assignments must have been 6 months or longer to qualify)
- You are eligible to collect or have exhausted your Unemployment Compensation benefits
- You are working 28 hours or less per week and your current gross weekly wages are 80% or less than your gross weekly wages from your job of dislocation
- You are not working at a job that is similar to the position from which you were laid off
What makes my income eligible? (Required Documentation: Proof of gross income for all family members for the last 26 weeks, Public Assistance and/or SSI award letter, documentation of disability)
- You meet the Total Gross Family Income Guideline for the number of people in your family
or - You or your family/household member receives or in the last 6 months received TANF, SNAP or SSI
or - Your child is eligible to receive free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
or - You are a person with a documented disability and meet the Total Gross Family Income for a family of one
| Total Number in Family | Total Gross Family Income for the Last 6 and 1/2 Months (26 Weeks) (Do Not Include Cash Public Assistance or Child Support) |
|---|---|
| Individualized Career and Training Services – ADULT ONLY (effective 1/11/2024) | |
| 1 | at or below $19,427 |
| 2 | at or below $26,367 |
| 3 | at or below $33,307 |
| 4 | at or below $40,248 |
| 5 | at or below $47,188 |
| 6 | at or below $54,128 |
| 7 | at or below $61,068 |
| 8 | at or below $68,002 |
LOCAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- You must have a High School diploma or GED at the start of your training program
- You must not have marketable or in-demand skills to be considered for training
- You must request training in a High Priority Occupation
- You must obtain the minimum CASAS scores aligned with your occupational choice
- You must meet the training provider’s entrance requirements
- You must complete training within 24 months from the start date of WIOA funding
- You must be seeking full-time training related employment after training completion