Youth Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

Youth Services under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) are available for youth both in and out-of-school. Eligibility requirements are as follows:

In-School Youth

16-21 years old (local policy) and
Attending school and
Low income and
At least one of the following apply:

  1. Deficient in Basic Literacy Skills, or
  2. Homeless, Runaway, or
  3. In foster care or aged out of foster care, or
  4. Pregnant/Parenting, or
  5. Individuals involved with the justice system
  6. Individuals with a disability, or
  7. An English language learner, or
  8. Require additional assistance to complete an educational program, or to secure and hold employment

Out-of-School Youth

16-24 years old and
Not attending school and
At least one of the following apply:

  1. School dropout, or
  2. Youth who (a) received HS Diploma/equivalent and (b) is low income and (c) is deficient in basic literacy skills or is an English language learner; or
  3. Required to attend school but has not attended for at least the most recent complete school year’s calendar quarter, or
  4. Homeless or Runaway, or
  5. In foster care or aged out of foster care, or
  6. Pregnant/Parenting, or
  7. Individuals involved with the justice system, or
  8. Individuals with a disability, or
  9. Requires additional assistance to complete an educational program, or to secure and hold employment (must also meet low income requirements)

WIOA Definitions

A low-income individual is defined under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) as one who:

  1. Family income at or below 100% of poverty line or 70% lower living standard or
  2. Meets one of the following criteria:
    • Receives, or in the past six months has received, or is a member of a family that is receiving or in the past six months has received
      • Assistance through payments under a federal, state, or local income-based public assistance program (SNAP, TANF, SSI, or other State or local income-based public assistance)
    • Foster Child, or
    • Homeless, or
    • Receives or is eligible to receive free or reduced price lunch, or
    • Lives in a high poverty census tract

Note: Individual with a disability may be considered family of one for income determination purposes. If family income exceeds youth income criteria and items in 2 above do not apply

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