Supportive services for adults and dislocated workers are defined at WIOA sec. 3(59) and secs. 134(d)(2) and (3). Local WDBs, in consultation with the one-stop partners and other community service providers, must develop a policy on supportive services that ensures resource and service coordination in the local area. The policy should address procedures for referral to such services, including how such services will be funded when they are not otherwise available from other sources. The provision of accurate information about the availability of supportive services in the local area, as well as referral to such activities, is one of the career services that must be available to adults and dislocated workers through the one-stop delivery system. (WIOA sec. 134(c)(2)(A)(ix) and § 678.430 of this chapter). Local WDBs must ensure that needs-related payments are made in a manner consistent with §§ 680.930, 680.940, 680.950, 680.960, and 680.970. Supportive services are services that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized under WIOA sec. 134(c)(2) and (3). These services may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Linkages to community services;

(b) Assistance with transportation;

(c) Assistance with child care and dependent care;

(d) Assistance with housing;

(e) Needs-related payments, as described at §§ 680.930, 680.940, 680.950, 680.960, and 680.970;

(f) Assistance with educational testing;

(g) Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities;

(h) Legal aid services;

(i) Referrals to health care;

(j) Assistance with uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work-related tools, including such items as eyeglasses and protective eye gear;

(k) Assistance with books, fees, school supplies, and other necessary items for students enrolled in postsecondary education classes; and

(l) Payments and fees for employment and training-related applications, tests, and certifications.

(a) Supportive services may only be provided to individuals who are:

(1) Participating in career or training services as defined in WIOA secs. 134(c)(2) and (3); and

(2) Unable to obtain supportive services through other programs providing such services.

(b) Supportive services only may be provided when they are necessary to enable individuals to participate in career service or training activities.

(a) Local WDBs may establish limits on the provision of supportive services or provide the one-stop center with the authority to establish such limits, including a maximum amount of funding and maximum length of time for supportive services to be available to participants.

(b) Procedures also may be established to allow one-stop centers to grant exceptions to the limits established under paragraph (a) of this section.

Needs-related payments provide financial assistance to participants for the purpose of enabling them to participate in training and are a supportive service authorized by WIOA sec. 134(d)(3). Unlike other supportive services, in order to qualify for needs-related payments a participant must be enrolled in training.

Adults must:

(a) Be unemployed;

(b) Not qualify for, or have ceased qualifying for, unemployment compensation; and

(c) Be enrolled in a program of training services under WIOA sec. 134(c)(3).

To receive needs-related payments, a dislocated worker must:

(a) Be unemployed, and:

(1) Have ceased to qualify for unemployment compensation or trade readjustment allowance under TAA; and

(2) Be enrolled in a program of training services under WIOA sec. 134(c)(3) by the end of the 13th week after the most recent layoff that resulted in a determination of the worker's eligibility as a dislocated worker, or, if later, by the end of the 8th week after the worker is informed that a short-term layoff will exceed 6 months; or

(b) Be unemployed and did not qualify for unemployment compensation or trade readjustment assistance under TAA and be enrolled in a program of training services under WIOA sec. 134(c)(3).

Yes, payments may be provided if the participant has been accepted in a training program that will begin within 30 calendar days. The Governor may authorize local areas to extend the 30-day period to address appropriate circumstances.

(a) The payment level for adults must be established by the Local WDB. For statewide projects, the payment level for adults must be established by the State WDB.

(b) For dislocated workers, payments must not exceed the greater of either of the following levels:

(1) The applicable weekly level of the unemployment compensation benefit, for participants who were eligible for unemployment compensation as a result of the qualifying dislocation; or

(2) The poverty level for an equivalent period, for participants who did not qualify for unemployment compensation as a result of the qualifying layoff. The weekly payment level must be adjusted to reflect changes in total family income, as determined by Local WDB policies.