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

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

Click here to get started with the Welcome Center.